The Dark Corners Box Set

by Robert Scott-Norton

  “You’ve been doing your research,” Judy replied.

  “A little.”

  Judy nodded. “It’s intriguing and a little bit terrifying to imagine what they could get away with. If even half of what they say happened on that floor actually happened…” She left the rest unsaid.

  “I wonder if we’ll have time to take a look,” Seth added.

  The back door squealed open and Johnny appeared again at the top of the stairs, coughing and clapping for attention. The group fell silent.

  “Thank you all for coming tonight. I’m sorry to keep you waiting but I’m sure you’re all going to have a fantastic night. It’s a special night as well. This is the first time we’ve held a tour around this site, so I’m as excited as you. I’ll go over the plans for the night once we’re inside, and out of this weather, but I wanted to take a moment before doing that just to remind you of a few things.

  “We’re a serious paranormal investigation company. I know some companies are a little easier going in that regard but I promise anything that happens tonight has not been set up. This is science. I can’t guarantee you’ll see anything untoward—that’s the nature of the beast I’m afraid. But, it would be an unusual night indeed if you all didn’t experience at least something. Whatever that is, please share with the group so we can record it.

  “This building has a lot of history. I’ll say more as we work our way through. It is a vast building though, and safety is very important to us. I ask that you don’t go wandering off alone. There’s no mains power inside and I’d hate for any of you to have an accident.

  “And one more thing. The first orphans entered this building one hundred and forty years ago—today. Many were happy and cared for. Some were not. Let’s hope we meet some of the happy ones.”

  Johnny stepped aside and held open the door. “And now, we begin.”

  Seth felt someone tap him on his shoulder. He ignored it, but looked to his car and caught a glimpse. In that moment, he knew he’d made a mistake. The past was best left alone.

  The group travelled together, fusing into a new shape by the main steps, gaps between them narrowing. All eyes were staring into the black opening leading to who knew what.

  His heart was beating fast now, and he tried to take a couple of deep breaths to slow things down.

  You’re fine. You’re not alone.

  He fumbled in his satchel and pulled out a heavy torch that he flicked on. Despite the intense beam, he found he had to brace himself as it was finally his turn to enter the building.

  He paused, glanced behind him at the courtyard and the sealed gates, before he finally lifted his foot to cross the threshold.

  And then he was in.

  6

  As soon as he entered the building, Seth could feel the pressure. His skin prickled at the thought of the blackness surrounding him and it was all he could do to focus on the patches that were picked out by his torch. He shuddered and followed the crowd, Judy was in front and lingered a little, waiting for Seth to keep pace with her. A thud came from behind and Seth spun to see Johnny moving away from the door he'd let slam shut. A strange grin was on the man's face, a boy’s thrill at finally getting to play with his toys. He was clearly in his element. He scurried past, leaving Seth at the end of the line moving along the corridor to a more open space where lights had been rigged.

  The group looked around in awe at the environment they trudged into. Johnny led the way with a massive LED torch. It cast a wide beam and illuminated the main features of the entrance hall.

  Ornate handrails curved up the carpeted staircase, reaching up and away towards stained glass windows at the landing where the stairs broke to the left and right. A trio of portable work lamps powered by huge batteries illuminated the area. Seth stepped into the light and avoided looking into the shadows.

  Ahead of them were the main front doors to the hospital. Seth had driven past these on the way in. They appeared sturdy enough to withstand a hundred rabid patients. Over to the right was the reception office with a window on the wall shared with the hall. Torches zipped across the black glass, causing disturbing tricks on Seth's vision. The walls were scarred with cracks. Wallpaper that might have been put up over thirty years ago had mainly ripped off, leaving rashes of patterned flowers in faded pastels. Keeping track of any new doors in this area would be challenging. Regardless, Seth pulled out his notebook and scribbled his observations on a fresh page.

  “What’s the smell?” Judy said. “It’s like paint stripper.”

  “More like mould,” one of the other guests said.

  Seth tried to ignore the smell. To him, it was worse. It was the stench of off-things; leftovers in the bottom shelf of the fridge. Meat gone bad.

  Higher on the walls, on either side of the lobby, were a pair of decorative balconies, short walled with ornate pillars. They looked precarious. A door served each one. Both were closed. Seth made a note; two more doors.

  Johnny's face beamed as he reviewed the area. He shone his torch along the passageways at either end before turning it up over his head to catch any detail the work lamps couldn’t reach. Two orange glass shades hung on long suspended chains from ceiling roses above. Seth tried not to notice how much they were rocking despite the lack of a breeze.

  “If you head through that door over there,” Johnny said, gesturing to the opposite side of the entrance hall, “I've set up a break room. There’s tea and coffee, but be careful with the urns, they can get very hot. Also, help yourselves to cans and snacks. We’ll get started in a few minutes.”

  Judy had settled close by Seth’s side. Her presence was soothing, her energy positive, and that countered some of his fears about being in here at all. “I shouldn't have bothered,” she said under her breath.

  “Come again,” Seth replied.

  “Bringing my own thermos—I have a tendency to over prepare.” She was smiling though and together they watched as Arjun and Alisha led the pack to the snacks, Alisha propping the door open with a chair she'd found.

  Seth hung back with Judy. He wanted to speak to Johnny before they started. There was going in blind and there was this. He didn't have any idea what Johnny had in mind for the night’s activities. He prayed he wasn't expecting him to play up to the crowd—that wasn't Seth’s style at all. Well, not unless he thought it might get him a bigger tip.

  Now seemed as good a time as any. Seth approached and coughed to tear Johnny’s attention away from a crate he was sorting through, placing equipment on a table.

  “We haven't talked about how you will run the tour,” Seth said. “Have you got a schedule?”

  “Not exactly. I thought we’d play it by ear.” He pulled a pair of boxes with small LEDs embedded in the cases and Seth recognised them as EM readers, popular for ghost hunts. Next out of the crate were two compact video cameras. Labels identified them as infra-red.

  “Right…” Seth intoned.

  “Is that OK? I know you're new at this, but the punters don't know that.”

  “You've got a lot of equipment.”

  Johnny nodded. “Yes, and most of it is totally useless. But, if you don't give a hunting party something to hunt with, they're liable to get annoyed and do their own thing. Trust me, we don't need a bunch of tired punters breaking off to investigate on their own. This place is huge, we might never find them again.” Johnny’s tone was light and playful but Seth felt the sentiment was genuine enough. “Listen, I’m sorry I didn't have time to talk to you until now. It’s all been a bit rushed. Dad wanted this to go ahead earlier than I’d expected. But it is what it is, and maybe we’ll have a better experience if we don’t work to a plan. I’ll lead the group between locations, and you can dial into the spirits and let us know how they're feeling.”

  “I'll let you into a spoiler—spirits are rarely anything other than pissed off.”

  Johnny’s lips pressed together, but he didn't get a chance to respond for at that moment a sound of breaking glass came from the
snack room. A man cried out. Seth ran across, followed by Johnny and Judy. Inside the breakout room, Michael was clutching his wrist.

  “You OK?” Seth asked. He had round cheeks and when he spoke, Seth caught sight of his cracked lips and stained teeth.

  “The glass shattered as soon as I picked it up.” He sounded breathless.

  Seth led Michael to the main entrance hall. In the better light, he could see a sliver of glass poking out from the man’s wrist. There was blood, not enough to consider the injury an emergency, but certainly not something that could be ignored.

  “I think we should drive you to the hospital.”

  Michael shook his head, then before Seth could stop him, the man took hold of the sliver and yanked it out himself. Now the blood flowed in earnest.

  “You idiot,” Seth said. Judy pulled out a packet of tissues from her bag and offered them to Michael. He took them and applied pressure.

  “It’s missed anything important. I can see that.”

  Seth doubted he could see jack shit through the blood that had already covered his wrist.

  Michael lifted the makeshift dressing and Seth was relieved to see Michael’s instincts had been right. He could just make out the puncture wound where the glass had made its way in. A tiny hole. Blood seeped again but not so fast. He put the tissues back on it.

  “You still shouldn’t have done that you know,” Judy chimed in. “That could have been nasty.”

  “I wouldn’t mind a quick dressing if you’ve got a first aid kit,” Michael said to Johnny.

  Johnny dug a small pack out from a crate and found some gauze and dressing strip. With a little help from Judy, he had it looking neat in a couple of minutes.

  The rest of the group had followed them out of the breakout room but kept their distance, their mood subdued.

  “Are you sure you’re OK?” Johnny asked.

  Michael shrugged. “I’m fine. Just feel a bit stupid. Don’t know my own strength.”

  Johnny patted the man on the arm then turned to address the group. “OK, everyone. So lesson learnt. You need to be careful. It's impossible to light every room we enter but even where we have lights, mind your footing. Michael had a little cut. He’s fine though and as eager to get going with our investigation as the rest of you. So, let’s make a start.”

  Seth looked across at Judy and their eyes met. She was fiddling with a chain around her neck and pulled a face as if to say she was as puzzled by the accident as Seth.

  Johnny had the attention of the group and stepped onto the first step of the staircase so everyone could see him.

  “Some housekeeping,” he started. “This is an old building. Constructed in 1873 and still standing. There are some areas which we aren’t authorized to go into and I have sealed those with tape. Please don’t go into these taped off areas as it affects my insurance liability.” He laughed, and a couple in the group reciprocated. “Also, no wandering off. This is a big place and you wouldn’t enjoy getting lost in the dark down here on your own. Believe me, I’ve walked those basement corridors alone, and it’s not easy.

  “If you want to leave before the end of the night, please let me know. In between vigils, we’ll be coming back here to recharge with caffeine. I’m not having anyone falling asleep tonight. But just remember what a great opportunity this is to get close to the unknown. I want everyone to leave having had a positive experience—there’s no reason to be scared. Nothing in here has the power to hurt us.”

  Seth noted the uneasy glances across the group.

  “But first perhaps you might appreciate a brief history of the building. It was established as an orphanage in 1873 and opened in 1874 to provide a home for those children whose fathers died at sea. In 1899 there were 321 children living here, with another 500 receiving some financial aid outside.

  “In 1918 at the outbreak of the first world war that had exploded to a thousand children. But at the outbreak of the second world war, the children were evacuated to the Wirral. Preparations were made for the children to return, but social care was changing and those children never returned. The orphanage closed in 1949. But that wasn’t the end of this building. In 1951 it was sold to the Ministry of Health who opened the building as Ravenmeols Hospital in 1954. For over forty years, this hospital was home to hundreds of mentally ill patients. They developed their own methods of treatment and took in more severe cases. This was not a happy place for the residents. They didn’t even know what happy was. And when this place closed in 1997, there wasn’t a single member of staff who wasn’t relieved.”

  “I’ve got some printouts here showing you the basic floor plan of the grounds and building. There are a few outbuildings around the courtyard you entered through, but most of our investigations will be in this main wing.”

  Johnny stepped down and crossed to the equipment table. “Please help yourself to any of the equipment. You’ll find the EM readers useful. I’d suggest someone in the group keeps a close eye on one at all times. Note down the spikes in readings, and we can compare notes later. Use the cameras to record any strange sightings. I’d appreciate it if you could take photographs of all the rooms before you enter, whilst you’re in there, and as you leave. It gives us a nice visual record. I’ve a few airhorns that we should share out. I don’t expect anyone to go wandering off, but if you do get lost, they’ll help us find you. There’s also a Dictaphone in there. Use that to take notes.”

  With the equipment handed out, Johnny grinned. “This should be a good night. I expect you all to have some fun, get scared, but ultimately have a rewarding investigation. And rest assured that nothing is staged. If you see something strange, it’s nothing to do with me.”

  “Where are we starting?” Judy asked.

  “Upstairs. Seth will take you up to the first-floor corridor. I’ve got some things to set up here and I’ll join you shortly.”

  All eyes moved to Seth, and it took him a moment for Johnny’s words to sink in. So, he was in charge of this ghost hunt now. Right. His gaze flicked up the staircase and the darkness ahead of them. His heart picked up the pace and his mouth went dry.

  Judy touched his arm. “Come on, then. No point hanging around.”

  He couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm and got himself moving.

  “Everyone keep close,” he said to his followers.

  The carpet was uninspired, faded, and terminally ill. Ripped and threadbare, it was more of a health hazard than decoration. Seth shone his light up the stairwell.

  Judy swore. “Bloody hell,” she said, clutching Seth’s arm. “Did you see that?”

  Seth had.

  A pale face had been staring down at them from over the bannisters.

  7

  Seth cast his light around the bannisters again where Judy and he had both seen the devilish face staring down at them, but it was gone.

  “What did you see?” Johnny hurried over.

  Glenda took hold of Peter’s hand.

  “A man. Up there.” Judy used her own torch to target the area where the face had been. “He was staring at us.”

  “You said you wouldn’t stage anything,” Seth said to Johnny so the rest wouldn’t hear him.

  “And I haven’t.”

  Glenda turned to the first page of her notebook and scribbled some words down. Peter held an EM reader before him and found the switch to the side. “Is this how you use it?”

  Johnny suggested holding it out and moving it around. The needle barely quivered away from zero. “Nothing,” he declared, then looking up, “but, you all saw it?”

  Nods and affirmations came from the group.

  Johnny’s smile was almost one of relief. “I told you this would be a good event.”

  “Shall we still go upstairs?” Glenda asked. Her voice suggested she didn’t really want to, but Judy nodded vigorously.

  “Absolutely,” Johnny exclaimed, “we’ve come here to find the unexplained. But, you lot go up, I still need to unpack some of this equip
ment.”

  “You’re not leaving us to go around on our own,” Peter asked.

  “You’re not on your own. You’re going around with our medium. Trust me, he’s the best in the business.”

  Seth ignored them. The fine hairs on the back of his neck had stood to attention and his skin was feeling the temperature drop. “We’re going up. It’s the only way to find answers.” And then he was powering up the stairs, giving the rest of his team seconds to decide on whether to follow or get left behind. They followed.

  As they rounded the first landing, Seth glanced down at the entrance hall. The large doors were closed. Johnny was still busy. The shadows were complete and impenetrable in the corners. There were a million places to hide. Had it been something supernatural they’d seen or something more prosaic? An intruder? He didn’t want to share his concern with the group but that was the most likely. It seemed difficult to believe that any security firm would have been able to effectively secure this place from determined intruders.

  “This is odd,” Judy said.

  “What’s that?” Seth replied.

  “Above the bannisters, this fencing. Is that the developers do you think?”

  Glenda shook her head. “Nothing to do with them. That’s to stop patients jumping. That’s suicide fencing.”

  Judy let go of the section she was holding. “Oh, I didn’t think.”

  As Seth’s shoes scuffed at the torn lino of the first-floor landing and he saw the metal plated door leading to the next section of the hospital, his chest tightened.

  “Shall we go this way?” he asked the group.

  “As good as any other,” Peter concurred.

  Seth held the door open and let the others pass. He counted them through, feeling like a school teacher herding his class. Judy led the way, followed by the husband and wife, Peter and Glenda. Michael went next, still pressing down on his cut. The two friends from university, Alisha and Arjun, were last. Seth stepped through after them, letting the door close behind him.