Double Exposure

by Sarah Ruth Scott

  “Ok I believe you” Elliot said

  “Look if we are going to have to work together don’t get in my fucking face ok” Samantha said abruptly

  “Ok that suits me” Elliot agreed holding his hands up. “Anyway Macgregor wants to see us in the study”. Elliot said heading towards the stairs

  They managed to find the study and knocked on the door after a few moments waiting for a answer they went in. The room was virtually empty with a few pictures and a desk but the most curious thing on the desk was a board game Mystery murder game and figures set out on the table in various rooms as if someone was playing the game.

  Elliot noticed the game and began to touch the figures

  “Please leave them alone!” Macgregor shouted

  Elliot jumped and dropped the figures

  “I’m sorry but no one knows who put this here or why and so its evidence” Macgregor seemed worried

  “Interesting and intriguing” Samantha said bending to look at the figures

  “I suspect that we are the figures and part of someone’s game” Macgregor continued

  “Why do you say that?” Elliot asked

  “Because I found a card beside my bed with a picture of a man in purple on it” Macgregor said “And before my niece went missing a card of a woman in blue was by her bed.

  Samantha noticed a portrait on the wall “I like your painting its you isn’t it?”

  “No its my identical twin brother John, he slept in the room that you are staying in lass” Macgregor said almost smiling.

  “So who are we?” Samantha asked

  “You’re my cousin from London called Samantha and you lad are Stuart another cousin from London” Macgregor explained

  “So we are on vacation?” Elliot asked

  “Yes and don’t tell a soul” Macgregor insisted

  “Of course not” Samantha agreed.

  “So lets go and eat” Macgregor said leading them into the corridor and then into the large dining room.

  They met other people in the dining room who were introduced by Macgregor, the room maids and servants were walking about and Elliot made a point of observing them. On the way to the dining room each one was a suspect for kidnapping no one escaped his notice. Samantha had also suspected one or two people mainly male staff as she was going through an anti male phase in her life. Her previous relationship with Derek caused her so much heartache she was ready to castrate any man at this point.

  Macgregor introduced his guests to Samantha and Elliot, firstly my friend Janet the friend from Inverness. She was a tall thin lady with short dark hair and a pale complexion. A vicar who was from Aberdeen, he was a short bolding man who seemed to look over his glasses like you would expect a teacher to do. He was quite portly with chubby cheeks like a hamster he kept looking over at Samantha across the large oblong table. Macgregor sat at the head of the table the entire cutlery shone and the glassware sparkled, the servants came into the room and served each guest with a hot soup dish.

  Both Samantha and Elliot were amazed at the banquet and at the way things appeared to be organised. Macgregor obviously enjoyed entertaining his guests, he also made a point of making them feel comfortable in his presence.

  “I am pleased and delighted to have you all here and hope your stay will be comfortable” Macgregor said addressing everyone “I do hope my niece Gillian will return safely with us, I would like you to meet her as she is the apple of my eye”. Macgregor looked around the table at all his guests in turn. “You are in the castle of Macgregor home for generations of Macgregor’s so don’t be surprised to see a few ghosts occasionally”. Macgregor seemed serious when he referred to the place as being haunted.

  Samantha was more interested in the large ring that he was displaying on a finger on his right hand. The ring had a ruby inset in the centre of the ring, which shone like a red light. Macgregor noticed her looking at it and smiled at her in a strange manner as if he could read her mind.

  “This ring has been passed down the family through generations” Macgregor was addressing Samantha who was two seats away. “Its as beautiful as you my wee lassie and it will never come off”.

  Samantha smiled and began to blush “Thank you” she said looking down at a bowl of soup in front of her, then at Elliot, he just smiled and picked up his soup spoon and began to scoop up his soup. Samantha had a very delicate manner, which indicated that she had been to functions like this before. She knew exactly how to behave and displayed such elegance like a lady of the manor. Elliot however was much more down to earth oblivious of the other guests behaved more like a caveman in some cases.

  Samantha could here conversations around her discussing Gillian’s disappearance and Janet was sitting next to her wearing a purple dress, she seemed very observant pointing out items in various rooms. She particularly curious about Samantha and examined her like person buying a vase or other interesting objects.

  “So Samantha” Janet began

  “Call me Sammy most people do” Samantha said smiling

  “Ok Sammy where are you from?” Janet asked curiously

  “I am from London” Samantha replied

  “Yes but I can detect another accent there” Janet said in a probing manner

  “Well I am originally from Australia” Samantha revealed.

  “So you are related to Gordon” Janet said

  “She’s my cousin” Gordon quickly interrupted.

  “I see and I am a friend of Gillian’s, we were at school together” Janet said watching the servant put her main meal in front of her.

  “Game pie my favourite,” the vicar said smiling.

  “I aim to please Charles” Macgregor said cheerfully.

  Samantha felt nervous next to Janet but was not able to understand why; something told her that she was hiding something or not quite who she seemed to be. She was also still curious about the mystery murder game on the study table that apparently just appeared there. No one knew why it was there not even the servants, but it had been there since the disappearance of Gillian a few days ago.

  Samantha and Elliot were sat in the study with all the other guests, listening to Macgregor telling ghost stories. He seemed quite intent as he related each detail his eyes seemed fixated on the portrait of him as if something was wrong. He then looked at his audience then focused on Samantha’s large brown eyes. He explained about his ancestors who lived in the castle and who according to himself haunt the many rooms and corridors each night. He was so convincing it was almost as if he believed his own stories and was relaying real events. This was all part of the performance with sounds and visual activity provided by a clever man hidden in a control room, Macgregor’s missing brother had created the whole show years before in order to entertain the public. Now Macgregor had his audience and he was like the master of ceremony, circus master and storyteller all in one.

  “Well ladies and gentlemen if you look and listen we have the weather giving us the atmosphere for my ghoulish stories” He pointed to the window where a storm was taking place, thunder and lightning followed by heavy rain.

  “I must tell you the story of Angus Macgregor” He began with a solemn look on his face. “Who’s wife was gravely ill, she was suffering from a painful illness stricken with fever and as pale as snow” He looked back at Samantha and smiled “She was very beautiful and a true lady, but her illness aged her and her hair turned white.

  Samantha felt uneasy as she listened to his story almost as if he was talking about her but then she knew deep inside she couldn’t have been.

  Macgregor continued his story “Angus watched his wife as she began fading away but was attracted to a maid who gave him pleasure. They he was having an affair carried away by his weak will and obsessed with one so young and fair. However on his wife’s dying day she beckoned him to her side and whispered in his ear saying I know and
repeating I know. He began to shiver and became enraged sending the maid off but she walked up the north tower and threw herself off plunging to her death. She returned from the dead to haunt him shouting and screaming at him, you are a wicked man you will die a horrible death. Sure enough he did as he fell down the main stairs near the entrance hearing her words over and over again, he was crippled and had pneumonia and true as her words were he died a horrible death”.

  Macgregor pointed in the direction of the north tower “Every night you can see a white figure falling from the tower and on the stairs a floating shape moves down the stairs as for Angus you can hear him in his bed gasping for breath and you may even see him somewhere within the castle”.

  “What a chilling tale” one of the guests said shivering

  Samantha looked at her in disbelief then whispered to Elliot “They take it all in don’t they”. She said smirking

  Macgregor looked at the large antique grandfather clock standing by the wall and continued with another tale.

  Angus had a younger brother called John who was in the woods at night when it began to rain; he sheltered under a tree and was suddenly struck by lightning. He survived but became mentally impaired he was so bad that he killed his wife by stabbing her to death with a knife, she was found by a servant in the library. Sometimes you can hear her screams or see her walking covered in blood. He walks about too with his menacing eyes and hunched up body moaning as he moves around the corridors at night. You think your safe until he suddenly catches you and stabs you over and over again, you can tell when he is about to attack because before he does you hear the striking of the clock at the midnight hour”.

  At that moment the clock struck and everybody jumped including the sceptical Samantha, each person looked at the clock but it was only Eleven o’clock.

  “But that’s not all” Macgregor said continuing his story “John died after killing his wife by shooting himself and blowing his brains out, you can clearly hear the shot every night almost in every room” He paused then yelled “Bang!” at the top of his voice, he then roared with laughter as they all jumped again.

  After Macgregor had successfully scared the guests especially Sharon he left them to tell their own ghostly tales. Sharon kept jumping at every sound and saying ‘what was that’ even when no one else heard anything. Sharon had already stated that she had heard voices and spoke to them saying ‘If your there contact me in some way, make a noise or something’.

  Meanwhile he called Samantha and Elliot to one side wanting to speak to them in private. “I need to discuss Gillian” He said in a solemn tone

  “Gillian went missing during the last haunted weekend. Before she disappeared she claimed that she could hear voices, as you know we set up the atmosphere for the ghost hunting by elaborate sound and visual effects”.

  “So it could have been one of these sounds?” Samantha asked trying to make sense of it.

  “No this was nothing like our pranks, it was voices of command telling her to do things” Macgregor explained

  “So was she ever assessed mentally?” Samantha asked concerned

  “No never” Macgregor replied

  “You think she may schizophrenic?” Elliot asked

  “Yes maybe” Samantha replied searching for a rational explanation for her behaviour.

  “I suppose it is possible” Macgregor admitted

  “My mother was schizophrenic” Elliot said reflecting back on his past

  “I had a friend who was schizophrenic and she used to have audible hallucinations she tried to drown out the voices by putting headphones on and playing music, this worked for a while but nothing works perfectly”. Samantha said concerned.

  “What was Gillian wearing when she went missing? Elliot asked

  “She was wearing patterned T-shirt and blue jeans”. Macgregor said giving a loose description of her attire, he produced a photograph from the inside pocket of his coat and showing Samantha and Elliot.

  “She’s pretty” Samantha remarked

  “And where was she when you last saw her?” Elliot asked

  “In the library looking at books” Macgregor explained

  “Can we go there?” Samantha asked eager to find out more information.

  “Yes of course” Macgregor He made his excuses to the other guests and took Samantha and Elliot into the library.

  After a careful search of the room Samantha and Elliot were satisfied that nothing was unusual in the room. Elliot examined every inch even the walls for any signs of another exit like a false panel or section leading to a secret passage. He felt as if he was being watched and did notice tiny object, which could have been a camera in the corner of the room.

  “What’s this Gordon?” He asked

  “Oh that’s part of our elaborate equipment that we use for the ghost hunting, we project images in the room to give the elusion of a ghost the sound equipment is concealed in a few false books”. Macgregor explained

  “Very clever” Elliot said

  “So you make people believe that ghosts exist” Samantha said

  “Yes its all part of the fun and thrill of the weekend” Macgregor said playing with his ginger beard with his fingers.

  Samantha was attracted again by the ruby ring again as she saw it sparkle.

  Samantha asked to see Gillian’s bedroom, it looked just like the other rooms even to the point of having a fireplace and wall panels. In the middle of the room was a four-poster bed with red silk sheets like Samantha’s bed. There was no sign of dirty footprints or blood and according to Macgregor there was no sign of a struggle. Elliot examined the wall panels and around the fireplace hoping to find for a secret entrance or doorway. Nothing seemed obvious and everywhere was spotlessly clean like all the other rooms, which eliminated a possible, escape root in the area. Samantha thought that Elliot had been watching too many movies and had an over active imagination.

  Macgregor led them out of the room and locked the door behind them; Samantha and Elliot decided to have a walk outside around the immediate area, examining each window and doors for any clues.

  “Something doesn’t add up” Samantha said

  “Like what?” Elliot said bewildered

  “Come on Stuart didn’t you think Janet was odd asking questions like a detective or something?” Samantha said looking at another window

  “I think you have a lot of imagination” Elliot said heading for the conservatory door.

  “Fuck you Stuart why can’t you see it are you fucking blind” Samantha said angrily

  “Sorry but you’re the reporter, I am merely a photographer” Elliot explained

  “Well I know there is something about all this that doesn’t make any fucking sense and that Janet knows something”. Samantha insisted.

  “I can appreciate that Sammy but why get so upset?” Elliot said checking the conservatory door.

  “Because no one fucking listens to me, I don’t know why I waste my breath honestly” Samantha said walking back towards the main entrance.

  “Perhaps if you didn’t swear or get stressed it might help” Elliot said hoping to get through to her about her attitude.

  “Well I am sorry but I can’t help it, I feel so fucking stressed” Samantha was certainly acting very emotional like she was hormonal.

  “Ok I get it, but we need to be rational and think about this clearly”.

  “Yes I know sorry let’s go back inside”.

  Samantha and Elliot entered the main door and began walking up the stairs when they noticed everyone rushing about frantically.

  “What’s happened” Samantha asked

  “It’s the vicar he was found dead in the study with marks around his neck, it looks like he has had a rope around it” Janet explained

  They all entered the study and noticed the vicar on the floor with a rope around his
neck; next to his body were a mystery murder game card with a picture of man in purple on it. The police arrived soon afterwards and interviewed the guests and staff. Janet spent a lot of time with them before they left; she then spoke to Samantha and Elliot in the library.

  “Ok who are you two, you go outside snooping why?” Janet asked abruptly

  “So who the fuck are you?” Samantha asked

  “I am a under cover police detective searching for Gillian” Janet explained

  Elliot looked at Samantha and back at Janet, he seemed a little confused at her explanation.

  “We are from criminal world I am a photographer and she is a reporter” Elliot explained

  “Reporters your kidding right, so what have you discovered?” Janet asked

  “That this is a creepy castle, probably haunted and nobody is who they seem”. Samantha replied.

  “Well that’s a fact” Janet said looking around the library

  “I can’t help feeling that we are being watched all the time” Samantha said also looking around.

  “I know I have had that feeling since day one” Elliot admitted.

  “Fuck now I sound like that daft bitch Sharon who jumps at every sound and sees things moving in the darkness”. Samantha said jokingly.

  Meanwhile in a secret room a figure sat watching them on a television screen, the screen was one of many that showed various rooms in the house. The pictures changed revealing more rooms including the bedrooms one of the rooms had a girl on a bed with her hands and feet tied to the bedposts. The girl was quite still and appeared to be asleep after a while she changed positions. On the desk near the television screen was a mystery murder game card with a picture of a white lady on the front.

  The person picked up the card and examined it, then placed it back on the table near a card with a picture of a red lady.

  Samantha went to her room which was close to Elliot’s room, Janet had left them and joined Macgregor in the study. Samantha went into her bathroom and began to have a shower hoping it might relax her so that she could sleep. She was washing herself when she thought that she heard a noise in the room. It was as if something heavy had been dropped on the floor making such a noise that it could have been easily heard above the sound of the gushing water in the shower. She switched off the shower wrapped a towel around her and went into the bedroom.