by Rick Kueber
“Or us...” I mumbled under my breath.
We stayed in contact every few days, even if only by text messages. I had moved into the modern day, and using my phone for messaging and social media became something that was second nature to me. Just a few short years ago, no one would have ever believed it, but here I was...smartphone in hand, sending group text messages, and posting to Facebook on the go. Over the next couple of weeks, I had received text messages alerting me to newly discovered historical documents which Hilary would then share with me via email. Although I had several desktop computers in the team office and my laptop, I preferred to print out the documents, and make hard-copies for the team to look at.
Our next planned meeting on Sunday afternoon finally arrived. I wandered into the Barnes & Noble and took an immediate right turn. The store was abuzz with shoppers and bookworms of all shapes and sizes. Avoiding them all, I made a bee-line for the Starbucks. A Grande French vanilla latte had been ordered, and I chose one of several empty booths to hold our meeting. As I awaited the barista to call my name, I thought about what this new case could develop into. I had a manila file folder with the original email, three document print outs, and copies of each. I gently placed it on the table and laid my hand on top of it, as if it held top secret information and some foreign spy was about to sneak up and whisk it away. The thought made me smile, and as I pondered the difference in the dangers we faced, versus those of espionage, the twenty-something woman with a pierced nose and intentionally unkempt hair called my name to alert me of the arrival of my sweet, caffeinated heaven. I pushed the file folder to the far end of the booth and quickly retrieved my piping hot beverage. I hadn't been sipping my latte very long when the trio burst into the bookstore in a clambering conversation, and spying me tossed waves in my direction and took their place in line to order drinks of their own. Theo was the first to slide into the booth directly across from where I sat in silence. Jenn took her seat next to me, and Katie slid in across from her.
“So...whatcha got there?” Jenn broke the momentary silence before we had even said hello. “I suppose there's no reason to wait.” I said as I opened the folder and passed out paper-clipped copies of the documents I had received. “Here's the first things I have from Hilary.”
Even though I was familiar to the letter with each page, all four of us began studying the first two-page document. It was only a financial and statistical report from 1888, but it did give us some insight on the harsh realities of the Infirmary. Money went much farther in the nineteenth century, but even by those standards, there was scarcely enough to maintain a facility of this size...much less afford any comforts or proper care of those within its walls.
“Interesting...” Mumbled Theo. It was the only comment until the second document was reached and everyone began reading. This scanned page was a continuation of a multi-page document, and at the end of several paragraphs detailing the history and function of the poor house and infirmary, was this simple, yet chilling statement: “There is a cemetery next to the infirmary. Most of the markers are gone. Following is a partial list of Infirmary deaths from 1890-1910. Eyes widened as pages turned. Alphabetically listed, the names and minor details were listed in two columns, and ran for pages and pages.
“Holy crap!” Katie finally exclaimed. “How many people died at this place?”
“I know right?” Theo responded. “I can't count that high.” It was a comment of morbid humor, but it was not far from accurate. “No wonder this place is haunted. There must've been hundreds of deaths there. And to have put so many people into unmarked graves and just forget about them.” Jenn's words were resoundingly obvious.
“I agree, Jenn, it's tragic to think so many people could have been forgotten by their families, mourned by only other discarded souls, nonexistent to the world...” I paused, as sorrow took me for a brief moment, “and from what Hilary has told me, there are two unmarked cemeteries on the property besides this one. I can only imagine how many different spirits may occupy the old infirmary, but there is one in particular that needs our help.”
The sound of shuffling papers and curious mutterings filled the air between us. Our sounds settled down and the ramblings of all of the surrounding shoppers began to overtake our own. The silence at our table was brought on by the final piece of documentation that had been distributed. Color copies of a much yellowed property map and basic floor plan of the infirmary drew everyone's attention. Small stains and smudges, discolored creases and wear and tear created by age and use adorned the scanned copies and gave them all of the mystery and intrigue of a newly discovered pirate's treasure map.
“Geez!” Theo said, rubbing his forehead. “This place is huge. Is this one story, or is there a basement, or what?” It was a valid question, as the floor plan only mapped out the first floor.
“Well...” I sheepishly began, “It's actually four stories, but I honestly don't know about any basement. I guess there could be one.” “Well, hell! A place this big...times four, hundreds of deaths, and you think there is one spirit there that needs our help? What the hell makes you think that?” Jenn was being brutally honest and bitterly sarcastic all at the same time.
“Why?” I paused, trying to reason why I should take someone's word over the logic of my most trusted teammate. “This is why...” While everyone studied the maps in front of them, I removed the last printout from the folder. “This is the email that came with the documents we have just looked at. Between the phone call I had with Hilary and this...” I trailed off before beginning to read the email aloud.
“ Rick, Here are the first documents I have uncovered, but I know there are many more. I'm going to try not to send anything that isn't relevant. I'll have more in a few days. Have the girls call me and I'll see if they can help sort through it.
Had another disturbing dream last night. They're getting worse. I remember feeling very cold, like I was literally freezing, and there were people ripping the skin off of me. There was breaking glass and the feeling of falling (which I have dreamed about before). I know that sounds like a ball of terrifying B.S., but it's mostly just like fuzzy glimpses of memory, but those things were definitely part of the dream...it started out that way. Then I remember standing outside of the infirmary, like I was getting ready to leave, and this woman, Maddie, said “Please! Don't leave me here!” She just kept screaming it over and over in this shrill scratchy voice. She was ghastly, all gray and white, with hollow eyes. All she had on was like a hospital gown, thing. Her hair was black and though it looked matted and dirty, it was stiff and shiny. I don't know what I'm saying. This probably sounds insane. Next thing I knew I was back in my bed, and I'm not sure if I was still dreaming, but her face was right in front of me and she cried out “Help Me!” I jumped up, wide awake, and screamed so loud it woke Mike up. It's becoming more than I can take. Hope to hear from you soon.
~Hil” The table had fallen silent, and though there were the usual sounds and conversations around us, it seemed as if we heard nothing. Looking around, I noticed none of my mates were looking up, only staring blankly down at the maps and other papers on the table in front of them. I wanted to say something, but I had no idea of where to begin after reading such a disturbing and desperate email. The muteness of our gathering was becoming more uncomfortable by the second, so much so that I was screaming out in my head, 'SAY SOMETHING!'.
“But, still...” Katie spoke, and I exhaled loudly, as if I had been holding my breath. “How does she know it's someone named Maddie? I mean, I'm not trying to be difficult, but honestly...how?”
She had a good point, and Theo acknowledged it by looking at her and then me with eyebrows raised. Very animatedly, and clumsily, Jenn plopped her chin down into her hand, her elbow already resting on the tabletop and looked from Katie to me and pushed up her lower lip, crinkling her chin, as if to say 'so....?'
“Hilary can explain better than I can, but she said she has dream visits from her almost every time she goes to th
e infirmary, and somehow she told her who she was... we'll have to ask her in person, or something.” I said, giving them little substance to grasp on to, but they seemed temporarily pacified. At the very least, I felt like I was no longer under pressure to answer the question.
“Okay...” Theo dragged the word out slowly. “Do we know anything other than 'Maddie'? Like, do we know if that's a real person, or anything?”
“Hilary did call her Madison once, so I am guessing Maddie is a nickname.” I actually was able to give a half-assed answer to that question. As soon as the words left my mouth, Katie began fumbling through her papers. Jenn and Theo soon joined in the action and all three began scanning through the pages, apparently searching for the name Maddie or Madison.
“It's not here.” Katie said with disappointment.
“I didn't see anything either.” Jenn added.
“True, I didn't find anything either, but it did state clearly that this was an incomplete list and only covered twenty years.” Theo had made a statement that was not only true, but also defended the possibility that Hilary knew who was haunting the Infirmary and her dreams. “It's just a feeling, but I think Hilary is right...I think it's Maddie.”
As usual, Theo was selling himself short. When I had a feeling, a hunch, or a gut instinct, sometimes I would be right, sometimes not. Theo, on the other hand, had decades and even generations of psychic intuitive history and his 'feelings' were right far more often than wrong. The team felt the same as I did, and gave Hilary and Theo the benefit of the doubt. We decided to stick with searching for a connection between the Infirmary, the adjacent poor house, and someone named Maddie or Madison.
We had only scratched the surface, but at least we had a direction to begin investigating and researching. Often we investigate a haunting without a single shred of evidence to explain the who or why. Many times it is only a vague series of unexplained occurrences that lead someone to believe they have a paranormal situation, while other cases have sightings of apparitions, shadow people, and other supernatural events that substantiate a haunting. Most often these cases have no historical proof of any tragedy or name any particular person of interest that may be trapped spiritually causing the haunting. With this case, we had both. There were numerous tragedies and deaths that were clearly documented in public records. We also had a name, and though it wasn't much to go on, it was more than we were used to.
The conversation turned from the new case, to current events, our personal lives, and eventually to Katie's newborn. He was just over a month old, and my mind drifted back through more than a decade of memories of my own son. I smiled.
“You know this is the first time I have been out of the house without him since he was born?” Katie said, thoughtfully.
“...And this is how you spend your first hours of freedom?” Jenn poked at her, having raised three kids of her own. “Well... I am honored to have a team meeting as the first thing to drag you away from him. I know it isn't easy when they are so young.” I spoke from my own memories.
“I agree, it isn't what I expected my first hours away from him to be, but it's not far from home, and I can go anytime I need to...” Katie's eyes looked upward, as if deep in thought, or memory. “I will eventually get a 'girl's night out' or something more adventurous, just not yet.”
“Baby steps...” Jenn whispered and smiled. “Baby steps...” “Exactly... that's the best way to start, and before long, he'll be getting into everything, and coloring on the walls.” I teased her, but also interjected a bit of inevitable truth. That boy, like any, would prove to be a handful!
When the coffees where gone, and we'd run out of things to talk about, we all scattered like ashes in the wind, back to our own lives, and awaited the next clues we might receive. I had hoped that Hilary, Jenn and Katie would soon meet and begin delving deeper into the archives of the small town of Bangs, Ohio. I couldn't help but think there must be something more than just a lost soul, wanting peace. Surely, there were many spirits in need of help. Why had one in particular chosen to be so menacing to our friend from the north? I could only speculate all of the possible reasons, and hope that we might be able to answer the question, and to help her find her eternal peace.
Photo by Rick Kueber
Chapter 2 A Dream of Death
More than a week had passed and aside from a few social media and text messages, I hadn't really spoken to Hilary. The only thing that had actually been said about the Infirmary was my suggestion that she contact Jenn and Katie to set a time to Skype and discuss any further discoveries. I laid down to sleep on a Friday night, and tossed sleeplessly for several hours before I was able to attain any type of rest that even resembled sleeping.
Far away, in the next time zone, Hilary had tucked herself into bed while Mike was off working the night shift, as was usual. She had not had as difficult a time falling asleep as I had, though she may have wished she had.
*** It was a warm sunny afternoon as Hilary and Mike wandered the grounds of the Infirmary and the Poorhouse, with map and sharpie in hand searching for the lost pauper's grave yard. Three cemeteries had been mentioned in the writings of various books and papers, but only one was a marked cemetery. One of the remaining two was unmarked, even on the maps Hilary had found. As they searched they crossed off small bits of property on the map: discovery via process of elimination. Hilary's tummy growled angrily at her and she turned to ask Mike where and when he wanted to go for lunch.
“Mike!” she called out, finding that he had unexpectedly gone missing. She spun about in a panic, not finding him, and called out even louder than before, “MIKE!”
Clouds whirled overhead and the sky grew forbiddingly dark in an instant. Hilary's long dark hair blew in the suddenly wild wind, covering her face. She reached up, pulling the strands from her open mouth and called out again, “MIKE!” just as the lightning struck nearby with a thunderous roar. Bewildered, she found herself now, within the walls of the old Infirmary. It had become black as night outside and as cold as a northern Ohio winter, as the pouring rain pelted the imperfect glass of the ancient windows. Breath as white as snow steamed from her mouth as she wrapped her arms tightly around herself, rubbing her upper arms and shoulders. A phantom breeze blew icy across her neck and nipped stingingly at the rims of her ears. She turned to cry out for Mike once again, but her voice was stolen from her and not a sound would come out.
Manifesting through the darkness, the figure of Maddie appeared. Only a shadow of a figure at first, but moment by moment the details grew clearer. Dressed in the plain white hospital gown, stained and soiled like a discarded napkin, her long, thin frame gave it the appearance of being too large and too small at the same time. Her shiny, coal black hair was stringy and unkempt, but unnaturally covered her face from right to left as if it were windblown, yet frozen in time, and unmoving. Behind it, Hilary could see her eyes showing through, glistening black and lifeless. Bits of skin and flesh were missing from her left leg, arm, and side of her face, leaving random, blackish patches on her otherwise blue-gray skin. Her arms began to reach out to Hilary with twitching boney fingers.
“Hel...p meeeee...” the stuttered whisper came from nowhere and everywhere, filling Hilary's ears and mind with a hagridden voice and the painful sensation that can only be equaled to a migraine that came on as fast as a brain-freeze from eating ice cream to fast. The desire to scream out in sheer pain and horror was constant and though the need was ever present, her voice was not. The vision of Maddie began to blur and distort as wisps of smoky fog began to swirl around them both. Hilary felt herself being pulled backward, as the distance grew between them.
“Please...” Maddie's words drug out painfully. “Don't leave me... here.” The frigid night air became sub-zero and Hilary felt as if she would freeze to death in the moments the words were spoken. Suddenly, all went black.
Gasping for breath, Hilary shot upright in her bed. A cold sweat covered her and dampened her night shirt. Her hands rubbed t
he sweat from her face and her clammy fingers wrenched through her tangled hair. Exaggerated breaths caused her chest to heave until she gained lucidity once again. 'What a freakin nightmare' she thought to herself. Feeling the fear induced goosebumps, she rubbed her arms slowly. Still shaken from the vivid vision in her dreams, she sat up on the edge of her bed and reached towards the nightstand to get a cigarette in order to calm her nerves. Looking to the window, she heard the call of a screech owl in the tree outside. The moonlight dimmed as if clouds were moving to mask its light.
Hilary strained her eyes, looking out through the window to the trees beyond. Blue glowing eyes met hers, not from the distant tree line, but immediately in front of her. The eyes dimmed and blackened as she found herself face to chilling face with Maddie. The ghastly woman screamed out in a shrill, shrieking vocalization of terror, and was suddenly gone. Hilary held her breath and her hand shook, still reaching toward the pack of smokes on her nightstand.
A voice whispered quietly, desperately, in her ear. “Don't forget me.” Hilary spun about on her bed, looking from side to side and behind her. She swiftly grabbed at the lamp on the nightstand and turned it on, proving to herself that she was alone in the room. Seconds passed, but with hands still shaky, she pulled a cigarette out of the pack and fumbled the lighter clumsily. Taking a deep draw on the lit cigarette, she exhaled the smoke with a calming sigh. Legs trembling, she stood and strolled the few short steps to the window, opening it to let the smoke out and the warm fresh night air in.
“Gawd, I've got to tell Rick about this.” She said aloud into the night. 'It's 2 a.m.' she thought 'maybe I should just write it in a text, If I don't, I might forget some of the details.' Even though she knew she would never forget this night or the dreams and experiences that would be eternally tied to it. The conversation she had in her head rambled in broken thoughts and brilliant memories. 'I can never write this as well as I remember it, or could tell it...' The frustration and distress began to build. 'SCREW IT! I'll just write it the best I can, and ask him to call me after he reads it.' ...and so she did.