by Patricia Fry
“They lit a fire out in those trees?” Brianna asked. She chuckled. “Maybe they were roasting marshmallows.”
Margaret raised her hand for a high five with Brianna and both women laughed.
Savannah smirked at them, then asked Iris. “What happened? Did you ever find out what they were doing?”
“No. Timmy and I finally admitted to one another that we were scared and we agreed to hotfoot it out of there. I don’t think we ever spoke of it again. And I never heard of anyone being killed.” She looked off into space for a moment, then said, “But one of the students never returned to class after that.”
“What?” some of the women shrieked.
“Yeah, no one ever talked about it that I know of and maybe it was all something very innocent. But I sure noticed Imogene’s absence. She just seemed to disappear into thin air. She never attended a class again. In fact, I remember a few days later, seeing some men go into her room and pack all of her belongings into boxes. I always wondered…”
Colbi gulped. “Oh my gosh! Did they kill her?”
“Yeah, was she a sacrifice or something?” Brianna asked.
“I don’t know. To this day, I just don’t know.”
“Did you ever see those people in robes again?” Savannah asked.
“Actually yes,” Iris said. “I’d spent the night at the seminary with my friend, Greta. She was a boarder from some other country, as I recall. The bathroom was down the hall from the dorm rooms and I got up one night to visit the bathroom. When I opened the door to our room, I heard something and I peeked into the hallway.” She glanced around at the others. “I saw someone in one of those robes with the shiny belt thing walking toward the staircase with a black cat in his or her arms. When I saw that, I almost peed my pants.”
“So no one at the seminary wore robes—they didn’t have rituals where they wore robes at all?”
Iris shook her head. “Not that Timmy or I ever saw. And I asked Greta about it. She said she’d never seen anyone wearing a robe. No, it was as if some weird cult worked behind the scenes or underground or something. Of course, I didn’t come to that conclusion until I thought about it from an adult perspective. And years later, I became even more convinced of that.”
After a few moments of silence, Savannah asked, “How’s that, Iris? What happened later?”
“I was about thirteen or fourteen when the seminary closed. Mom was out of a job—well, for a while. She eventually went to work at a local restaurant. Turns out it was better pay, but it meant she worked a lot of nights. Anyway, the teachers and students all left the seminary.”
“Yeah, Margaret said, “and it remained vacant for what…thirty-five years?”
“No,” Iris said, her face drawn, “it hasn’t been vacant for that long. It may not be vacant to this day.”
“What are you talking about?” Savannah asked. “The cats? It’s certainly occupied by cats.”
“No. I’m not aware of the cats, but I know for a fact that at least a dozen years after it was boarded up, it was occupied. By whom or what, I don’t know—but it was something more human than cats…and possibly more animal than human.”
Margaret frowned suspiciously. “What are you talking about, Iris?”
“Yeah, now this is really getting interesting,” Brianna said, bouncing in her chair. “What happened, Iris?”
“Well, I was in my early twenties and dating a guy with a motorcycle. A small group of us ended up out there at the seminary one night. I thought I’d show them around the place where I’d spent so much time as a child.” She chuckled. “Jokester that I was, I sort of played it up as if the place was haunted.”
“So you’re the one who started that rumor,” Margaret teased. She nodded. “Yeah, I could see you doing something like that. So what happened? Did you encounter ghosts?”
“I don’t know what it was. We didn’t stick around to find out. But I can tell you there was something stranger than strange out there and it scared the bejeebers out of us.”
“What was it?” Brianna wanted to know. “Did you see what it was? What did it do?”
“Well, first we heard it. There was the most ghastly sound coming from the bell tower. Everyone heard it and we all hunkered down together, trying to maintain our bravado.”
“What did it sound like?” Savannah asked.
Looking off into space, Iris said, “A cross between a wolf and a monster from the deep.”
“What? What were you smoking that night?” Margaret insisted.
Iris smirked at her, then continued. “It was some sort of flying creature. It flew from the bell tower. It was the most grotesque thing I’ve ever seen, with its large green wings, pointed tail, and fiery eyes.”
“Fiery?” Colbi questioned.
“Yes, they were glowing, like embers,” Iris explained. “We took one look at that thing as it soared overhead, then we jumped on our bikes and shot the hell out of there. I was sure it would follow us and attack with its evil-looking talons. But we got away.” She glanced around at the others before saying, “And we never went back, either.”
The women sat silently for a few moments, assimilating what they’d heard. The only sound in the room was the drone of the men in conversation a short distance away. Suddenly, there was a shrill squeal and several of the women nearly jumped out of their chairs, grabbing at the nearest person for protection.
Colbi burst out laughing. “What’s wrong, you guys? That was just baby Rosemary waking up and wanting to be fed.”
Iris patted her chest. “Oh, poor timing, little one. You about gave Grandma a heart attack.”
Margaret took a couple of deep breaths.
Brianna laughed nervously.
“Did you ever find out what it was?” Savannah asked.
Iris shook her head. “No. But if I were you, I’d be careful out there.”
“Pshaw!” Margaret said. “I’m not afraid of figments of your imagination.”
Brianna bumped Margaret playfully. “Have enough figments of your own, right
Aunt Marg?”
Margaret laughed. “Something like that.”
“I’m telling you,” Iris insisted, “there’s something out there—always was and maybe always will be. I’d be darn careful, you guys.”
Chapter 3
“You’re quiet,” Michael said as he drove his family home later that afternoon. “Anything wrong?”
Savannah shook her head, then faced him. “That was a nice gathering. I enjoy our Sunday afternoons, don’t you?”
“Yeah. Only it doesn’t give me much time to do my puttering around the house. I may have to take some vacation days to finish up those projects I’ve started.”
“That would be nice,” she said, smiling. “Hey, what was it I heard you guys talking about? Are you going to a meeting or something?”
“Oh,” he said, perking up, “Clem’s Hardware is offering some do-it-yourself classes for home repair and remodeling. Damon wants to go and I thought I’d go with him. Max might like to get in on it too—not sure about Craig.” Michael chuckled. “He’s afraid that if he learns how to do things around the house, he’ll have to do things around the house.”
“That sounds like our Craig,” she said, smiling. “When are the classes?”
“Mondays. The first one starts tomorrow night.”
****
The following evening around seven thirty, Savannah was reading Lily a bedtime story when her cell phone rang. “Hi, Auntie. What’s up?”
“Remember that couple who came out to the seminary when we were there?”
“Yes, Lauren and…um…what’s-his-name.”
“Yes. Lauren called me just now and said there’s some sort of activity happening out there. She thought we’d want to know. She sees a light coming from the bell tower. Now that’s odd. I mean, there’s no electricity out there.”
“No, but if someone’s inside, they could be using lanterns or candles.”
“Wan
t to go check it out?”
“Um…well, I don’t really want to take Lily out and, as you know, the guys are at that class. Did Max end up going?”
“Yes.” Margaret hesitated. “Can you get Helena or Esperanza to come over for an hour or so?”
“Possibly. Let me make a call.” Savannah added, “We’ve been wanting to go out at night and see if we can spot more cats. I guess this is a good opportunity to do that. Bring your inventory sheet and a few carriers, just in case.” She added, “Do you have another light you can use? I’ll bring our big flashlight.”
“We have a camping lantern we use on the patio. I’ll bring that. There’s a flashlight in my car too.”
Twenty minutes later, the two women drove onto the seminary property. They’d been sitting in the car looking around for a few minutes when Savannah asked, “Do you see anything?”
Margaret shook her head. “Lauren said the light was coming from the bell tower. Let’s park here and walk over that way.”
After a few moments, Savannah said, “I think I see a glow coming from up there.”
Margaret looked around. “It could be a reflection from the moon.”
“Reflecting off of what?” Savannah asked. “There’s no glass around that bell tower. It looks all open.” She turned to her aunt. “So, what do you want to do, go inside?”
“After the stories Iris told us, I’m not so sure,” Margaret admitted. “What do you think?”
Savannah laughed quietly. “You believe in large green birds with glowing eyes, do you?”
“I thought you bought Iris’s story,” Margaret challenged.
“I did—I do. I believe she saw something, but that doesn’t mean it was real,” Savannah explained.
“Well, yeah, let’s go in and see what’s going on. If there’s someone in there, we really should run them off. I don’t think the owners want squatters here. And we don’t want anyone hurting the cats.”
Using the lantern and the flashlight, the two women walked to where they’d found the unlocked door a few days earlier. They entered, moved slowly and cautiously toward the wide staircase, and began to ascend it. As they reached the second-floor landing, Margaret motioned, indicating that they should walk to the end of the hallway. Once there, Savannah followed her aunt into the room on the right, then into the room at the left. When they returned to the hallway, Margaret mumbled, “I get the feeling we’re standing just about underneath it, but how in the heck do you get up there?”
Savannah looked in the direction her aunt gazed. “Up where?” she asked, not sure she wanted to hear the answer.
“The bell tower, of course.”
“Maybe there is no way up there.”
“Then why would we see light coming from the tower?” Margaret reasoned.
Savannah shrugged. “That is a mystery.”
Suddenly, they heard a shrill screech. Margaret grabbed Savannah, knocking her off balance, and she fell against a wall. She was able to catch herself, but not before the wall gave way. “Oh my gosh,” she whispered, “I broke something.”
“No,” Margaret hissed. “No, you didn’t. Look, the wall has opened up into another room. Now isn’t that odd? How did you do that, anyway?”
“Heck if I know.” Savannah glanced around, then took a quick breath and turned toward the hallway. “Okay, we’ve seen it, let’s go.”
“What,” Margaret complained, “just when we’re getting somewhere?” She grabbed her niece’s arm and pulled her into the room which seemed to magically open up to them.
“Where?” Savannah challenged, once they were inside the secret room. “Where are we? Look up. Do you see the bell tower above us? Do you see any way up there?” She leaned closer to her aunt. “By the way, did you hear that screech? Come on, it appears that we’re on a wild goose chase. And I don’t want to catch the goose or ghost or whatever it is.”
Just then Margaret let out a shriek.
“Ouch!” Savannah yelped. “It pulled my hair. What was that?”
“That crow or raven,” Margaret hissed, staring nervously around the room. “Where did he go?”
“I don’t know,” Savannah said, still rubbing her head.
Margaret pointed. “Look! It appears that there’s only one way in and out of here, through that secret door you found. So, whoever’s in here is probably still here. Come on, let’s snoop around and see if we can find him or her.” Her voice sounded pinched when she added, “…or it.”
“It?” Savannah questioned, grimacing.
“Yeah, like a big green bird. It could fly right out through one of those windows up there,” she joked. More seriously, she said, “In fact, that’s probably how that annoying raven got in here.” She looked around and spoke more quietly. “But how did he get access to this room?”
“Maybe through that secret door,” Savannah suggested. She let out a sigh and began moving around the room. Using her flashlight, she looked more carefully at the walls, hoping to find another secret panel. “You’re right, Auntie,” she said. “Look, someone’s definitely been up here. Do you see how clean the floor is? It’s not as dusty as the rest of the place. Oh,” she yelped, “a black cat. Hi there, kitty. Where did you come from?” She observed the cat for a moment, then continued to move around the room, pushing on sections of the wall in search of access to another secret compartment. Margaret joined her in her pursuit. But before they could make any headway, they heard a chilling scream.
Margaret grabbed the back of Savannah’s jacket. “Good God, let’s get out of here.”
“Good idea,” Savannah said, backing out through the opening in the wall. Once they were in the hall, they moved as quickly as they dared toward the staircase.
“Hold onto the railing, Vannie,” Margaret urged. “…or what railing is left.”
“Yeah, I will. Let go of my jacket, would you? You’ll make me fall.” Once they’d descended the staircase, run through the reception area, and pushed through the small door into the night air, Savannah asked, her voice quivering, “What do you think that was?”
“Hell if I know.” Margaret said, glancing up at the bell tower. She took hold of Savannah’s arm and pulled her toward the car. Out of breath now, she said, “It sounded almost human, didn’t it?”
“I don’t know. The way it echoed through that place, it was hard to tell.” Savannah shivered. “Gads, it was eerie.” Once she’d entered the car and fastened her seatbelt, Savannah stared up at the bell tower. “Look, there’s a light flickering up there again. Now that’s weird. There are no cars out here—if someone’s in there, how’d they get here?”
“And how’d they get up there?” Margaret pondered. “As far as I could tell, there’s no way up into that bell tower.”
Savannah tightened her lips, then said quietly, “There has to be a way. There just has to be.”
“Not if what’s up there is something from...um…you know, like from the other side.” Margaret’s voice sounded pinched. “Vannie, you know what? I’m beginning to believe in ghosts.”
Savannah stared at her aunt in the near darkness. “Really? Are you serious?”
“Yes,” she said, lowering her voice. “Vannie, we’re dealing with something stranger than fiction here. I think we’re going to need some sort of intervention in order to get our work done with the cats.”
“Intervention?”
Margaret started the car and drove toward the main road as she explained. “Yeah, like from your friend, Rochelle, maybe.”
After thinking about it, Savannah said, “You really think there’s something…um…from the spirit world going on here?”
“I don’t know. Can spirits light candles? Do they need light in order to do—you know—whatever they do?” She glanced at Savannah as she drove. “All I know is that something bizarre is going on out here and the cats might be in danger. Yes, I think we should call Rochelle and at least tell her what we’ve encountered.”
“Which is what?” Savannah chall
enged.
“Good question. And a good reason to call her. It’s unexplainable, and that’s right up her alley.”
****
Mid-morning the following day, Margaret knocked on the side kitchen door of the Ivey home.
“Hi, Auntie,” Savannah greeted, upon unlocking the door. “Want a cup of coffee? I haven’t cleaned the pot yet.”
“You’re not drinking coffee, are you?”
“No. Michael has a cup and a half before work—always a cup and a half. I usually make four cups just in case you or Craig pop in. I’ll sit down with you and have a cup of tea.”
“Okay.” Margaret looked around. “Where’s the princess?”
“Shhh. Napping. I can still convince her to take a nap most days—sometimes two naps. But she doesn’t usually sleep for very long.”
Margaret smiled, then leaned toward her niece in anticipation. “Did you call Rochelle?”
Savannah nodded. “Yes, she was intrigued, but she doesn’t think that what we’ve encountered at the seminary is connected to anything from the spirit world. She said it sounds more to her like a—what did she say?—a manufactured presence or a wannabe mystic or simply someone who doesn’t want us there for some reason.”
“Huh?”
“Rochelle doesn’t think we’re dealing with anything dangerous, just maybe a little crazy.”
Margaret’s eyes widened as she pulled a folded newspaper section from her jacket pocket. “Not dangerous, huh? Did you see the paper this morning?”
“No. Why? Did something happen out there?”
“It sure did. Check this out.” As Savannah scoured the page, Margaret gave her commentary. “They found a dead body in a pond on the seminary grounds early this morning. A couple—maybe Lauren and what’s-his-name—found it on their morning walk. In fact, the paper was late today, so I think they held up the presses to include the story.”