NeverEnding Maddness: A Girl Lost to the World (Frost & Flame Book 3)

by Rick Kueber

  “Well...” Jenn broke the spell of silence. “That sure adds a whole new level of creepiness to the Infirmary investigation.” “And danger...” I added. “If anyone wants out, now's the time, and I think I know us all well enough to say that you won't be judged, and it won't affect your standing with the team.”

  “Why?” I was shocked to hear Katie's response, though I wasn't sure what she meant. I just looked at her, non-verbally asking her for more. “Why is 'now the time'?” She sipped her drink, while everyone's attention turned to her. “I mean, why can't we back out at any time? Like...what if I want to keep helping with the research and decide later if I want out of the actual trip to the Infirmary?” She had me.

  “I just thought when you all read that this may be demonic, that you might want out...especially considering your little guy.” I nodded toward Katie. “This is a tricky place to be, as a team leader... this is both a team and an individual decision. Do we proceed as a team, partial team, or not at all. There are probably others who are better suited to deal with this kind of a haunting.” I left it at that for them to think about.

  “You have a...” Theo started but was cut off by Katie who was more vocal than usual. “Why?!?” She nearly shouted, causing a few random onlookers and making us shrink in our seats just a bit. “I'm pretty proud of us. We've been through a lot just in the last year and a half alone... and if you are insinuating that anybody else could care any more than we do, then I think you're wrong.”

  I found myself speechless once again. Katie was rarely so outspoken as she was today, but her statements, though strongly stated, made me beam with pride. I opened my mouth to try to say something, anything...but was saved by Theo who spoke up first.

  “As I was about to say...” He began, smiling to Katie. “You have a good point, but just because something has been labeled as 'demonic' doesn't mean that it is. There are plenty of negative entities and spirits that are even more evil in death than they were in life. I can't explain why a timid man would suddenly become a violent mass murderer, but diagnoses in the 1800's were not nearly as accurate as they are today, and we don't really know what this person had been through, or why he seemed to target certain people for his brutal executions...but we do know that we have faced a demonic presence before, and we have managed to help many souls, living and passed. I think we should see this through, no matter how long it takes, no matter who can, or can't...who will or won't help.” He sat back, having said his piece.

  Jenn held her hand up. “I'm good.” She said, and I thought that was all I was going to get from her. “As long as I have my sage and my prayers, I'm all in. I agree with Katie. I think I'll know before I get in to deep, and if we decide it's too much, we'll decide when that time comes, but I'll be damned if I'm going to give up before then... and don't expect me to give up, even then.”

  “Okay. I get it.” I looked each one of them in the eyes and smiled. I was actually fighting back the emotions as my eyes began to water. Quickly, I grabbed my latte and took a big drink. “Damn that's hot!” I fanned at my mouth as my watery eyes rolled a tear or two out onto my cheeks. I could feel their empathy, and thought they would not put me on the spot. What was I thinking?

  “Nice try E.V.Prick!” Jenn laughed out. “You aren't fooling anyone. My coffee's been cold for ten minutes.” She grinned. “But it's okay, I...” I could see the depth of her emotion stealing the words from her, but her feelings could not be stifled and came across loud and clear.

  We wrapped up what was intended to be a casual meeting as casually as we could, discussing topics such as our kids, work, and other facets of our daily lives. We might have stayed longer if we had known how long it would be before we would meet again. As intuitive as some of our team was, none of us anticipated such lengthy separation.

  Photo by Grace Kirsch

  Chapter 3 A Dashing Young Woman

  As time passed, I began to lose hope, not hope of aiding Hilary and the souls in need at the Infirmary, but hope that I would once again find a love who would be my twin flame, my soul-mate, and would love me as much as I did her for the rest of our lives. I had remained a single dad, and though I pined for the love of a woman who was the most amazing friend a person could wish for, those dreams and desires remained unattained. My love was much like the flowers potted on my front porch: they were noticed, but unattended and though they had no greater desire than to flourish and receive a drenching down pouring of rain from the heavens, they grew weaker as time passed and their needs, and mine, remained unquenched and withered.

  It was without intention, but the weeks passed all too quickly. The days grew warmer and longer, spring became summer, and Katie’s tiny infant was becoming a cotton topped boy. Somehow, though we all remained in contact with each other and Hilary, the summer solstice came and went. The heat of June mid-days turned into sultry July mornings. The 4th of July holiday passed us like it had everyone else and my son’s birthday, which was only one short week away, was rapidly approaching and soon after that school would begin again…and still, we had not made it to the infirmary as we had planned.

  It was on a scorching July afternoon, a Saturday, when we finally met at the office as a team and I placed a skype call to Hilary, as had been previously planned. Surprisingly, Jenn had arrived first and I received her calling card greeting.

  “Hey there, E.V.Prick! How ya been?” accompanied by the all too predictable hug. “Not bad, I suppose...all things considered.” I answered honestly, though in my head I was thinking things would be better if I didn’t feel so lonely and if we had been able to at least have an initial investigation at the infirmary.

  “So, what’s up with the Infirmary?” Jenn asked bluntly. “You know…I was just thinking that our last two major cases were wrapped up within a few months of receiving the initial information.” I began.

  “Yeah…” Jenn said slowly, attempting to draw out the rest of my thoughts. “…and it’s been more than three months since we received the call from Hil, and all we have done is scratched the surface of researching, and haven’t even made it up there to investigate yet.” I said, disheartened, and drew my mouth up to one side as I finished.

  “True…” She couldn’t argue the facts, but thought for a moment before saying, “…but you are in construction, and I am in horticulture and landscaping. This is the crazy-busy time of year for us. I can barely find time to shower at the end of the day; much less make a trip to northern Ohio!”

  “I know. I know…” I had to agree. I had been incredibly busy.

  “Hey now! That wasn’t very nice!” Jenn threw her hands on her hips and my eyes widened, wondering what I had said wrong. “You didn’t have to agree with me. I do shower you know…and on a regular basis.” She grinned, and I half smiled back at her, wishing my spirits could rise to her level.

  It was just then that I noticed Theo pulling into a parking space out front. I opened the sliding glass door to welcome him in when the heat of the day blasted me like opening an oven door. The day was in the upper nineties, but the humidity and ‘heat index’ made it nearly unbearable. I hadn’t planned on leaving the door open long, but just as Theo stepped from his car, Katie pulled in as well, so I stepped out into the heat to greet them and closed the door behind me. We shook hands and said our hellos on the front patio and I slid the glass door open and listened as they both let out a sigh of relief as they entered the cool 72 degree apartment. Jenn greeted them in the same way she had greeted me, with hugs and sarcasm, and we expected no less. A short time later we all shuffled into the spare room that I had set up as our team office. While my three amigos chose their seats next to the makeshift desks, I stood in the doorway.

  “Drinks?” One word was all I needed to say.

  “Margaritas?” Jenn joked.

  “Um...nope... but I have Mt. Dew, Diet Dew, tea, water, or I could make coffee.” I felt like an airline steward listing drinks and taking orders. Jenn stuck her tough out in her usual child-like way
and spluffed. “No Dr. Pepper? Ugh! I guess I'll have a Diet Dew.”

  “Is the tea sweetened?” Theo asked and I nodded with a smile. “Okay. Tea for me, then.”

  “Water.” was Katie's response and did not surprise anyone. Theo followed me into the Kitchen and I directed him to the cabinet where I kept the drinking glasses. “The ice is in the freezer.” I added and Theo shot me a sideways glance. “Thanks... I was about to look in the microwave.” In my head I was thinking smart ass but I refrained from saying it out loud and causing Theo to possibly drop the glass. Somehow, he knew what I was thinking, and so we both had a good chuckle as I retrieved the pitcher for him. While he poured his glass, I grabbed drinks for the rest of us and then returned to the office. I rolled the only open chair up to my computer and began opening files and printing four copies of each. When the first set had finished printing, I passed them out, keeping one for myself.

  “Okay...here's the latest and the greatest information Hilary had dug up from her level-7, top-secret hidden archives that only Nicholas Cage could find.” Everyone got the reference and it was greeted with a flurry of smiles and eye rolls and one “Only you Rick.” from Jenn.

  I already had a chance to read over the documents that I received that day, so while the others looked them over, I contacted Hilary via Skype and had her live on screen by the time everyone had looked over the first document.

  “Hey everybody!” Hilary called out and I could see her looking around to see who all was on the other end of the call. Everyone leaned in front of the camera and smiled and waved, or said hello back. “So...what do you think? Have you looked at the stuff I sent yet?”

  “I just printed them out and everyone has the first one, you know, the three newspaper clippings about people falling out of the windows.” I stated and smiled at the camera. I could sense Hilary's energy. She was both excited to begin revealing the discoveries she had worked so diligently to find, but there was also a more comfortable feeling. There was already a peace that came with her belief that we would finally be able to put this haunting to rest. Perhaps it was the cliched 'calm before the storm'.

  December 17, 1886 Martin Davis Died tragically Friday evening at the age of 63 whilst expectorating out of a fourth floor window. Mr. Davis lost his footings and fell to his demise. Two male attendees witnessed the fall but were not able to secure Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis had been confined as an inmate at the Infirmary after exposure in the Army.

  February 4, 1887 The widow Graham plummeted to her death. Ms. Graham had been avoiding two Infirmary Attendees when she fell through the window glass of her fourth story room. Ms. Graham had been admitted to the Infirmary after her excessive sexual abuse had been discovered.

  Myrtle Louisa Graham

  died unexpectedly at the age of 47 when she

  November 28, 1887 Clement Butler Mr. Butler died shortly after an accidental fall from a window in his fourth floor room. Two male attendees had gone to collect Mr. Butler for his weekly bath when they discovered the mishap. Clement Butler passed at the young age of 33 after suffering from epileptic seizures for several years at the Infirmary.

  “So...why did they house people with 'mental' issues on the fourth floor?” Jenn queried. “That does seem like a bad move, and apparently, they kept the windows open, or unlocked, which seems like a really stupid idea for the fourth story of a mental hospital.” Theo added in agreement.

  “Yeah… you would think they would have bars on the windows after the first one fell, or at least keep them locked.” Hilary interjected. “...and did you notice how they all happened in the winter? Who the hell would have the windows open in northern Ohio in the winter? That's just insane!”

  “Good point. Being from southern Indiana, I wouldn't have even really made that connection. Sometimes we have 60 degree days in December... not often, but once in a while.” I applauded Hilary's observation.

  “Anybody notice any other odd coincidences?” Katie said quietly, as if she were hesitant to say anything.

  “Like what?” Jenn asked. “Well, maybe it's nothing, but there were two attendants that saw or found all three of them, and two times it said they were males, aaaand... the woman who fell through the window was 'avoiding' them. First thing that comes to mind is that they were chasing her, or trying to take her someplace she didn't want to go...maybe she was more afraid of them than she was of jumping through the window... or maybe I'm just reading too much into it.” Katie looked down at the floor and awaited the critiquing.

  “BAM!” Hilary's voice yelled out from the computer speakers. “Show them the other document, Rick!” Excitement was in her voice in anticipation of the reaction they would have to the next uncovered archive. I did not hesitate, and as soon as everyone had their copy, the room fell silent.

  What I had handed them was a page from another edition of the 'The Independent Observer', a local newspaper. Even though the team was reading it for themselves, I could not resist reading it aloud to emphasize the key words and phrases.

  *DASHED TO DEATH* An Inmate from the Local Infirmary Leaps from a Fourth-Story Window

  and is Instantly Killed Madison Taylor, 25 years of age and unmarried, met with a frightful death at the Local Infirmary Friday evening- January 13, 1888. A former resident of Waverly City, she has been an inmate at the county Infirmary for several years. She has been troubled with a nervous disease that slightly affected her mind, and by reason of her predisposition to run away from the institution, was locked in an apartment on the fourth floor. About 7 o'clock on Saturday evening two men (employees of the Infirmary) having occasion to pass around the building, came upon the inanimate form of a woman on the ground. They reported the matter to Supervisor Ellis and the body was removed to a room on the first floor of the building. It was found to be the Taylor woman and her body was mangled in a most frightful manner. Her hat and shawl were found on the ground near the body. The supposition prevailed that while labouring under mental aberration she had attempted to escape from the institution by leaping from the 4th story window. Her death must have been almost instantaneous, as there was no sign of disturbance to the snow covered ground around the body.

  “Holy crap! Madison Taylor... is that our Maddie?” Katie exclaimed nearly jumping from her seat.

  “I think so!” Hilary yelled through the computer speakers with enthusiasm while I looked at my team with a devilish grin on my face. “Time to get your butts to work girls!” I added with a cagey tone. “You've got a name to start diggin' up.”

  “Can we start now?” Jenn said excitedly. “I wanna start now!” A toothy grin grew on her face.

  “I don't see why not.” I answered her, but noticed Theo rubbing his forehead with eyes closed. “You won't find her...” He said as if he was in a daze. “I don't know what that means, but I just know you won't find her.” “We're still going to look, Theo. You could be wrong, you know?” Katie seemed hurt by his words. “This is the best lead we've had yet.” No one argued, but Jenn perked up as if she had been shocked by one of those old-time gag 'joy-buzzers' that would pass a jolt to a hand shake recipient.

  “Katie!!” She yelled out. “We almost forgot to tell Rick about Mr. Clayborne.” “Oh yeah... well, there isn't a lot to tell, but go ahead.” Katie said honestly and they both immediately gained the undivided attention of Hilary, Theo, and me.

  Jenn proceeded to open her email on one of the desktop computers. “I sent the info to myself in an email so I could access it anywhere... I always do.” It took her a few minutes to find and open the email and its attached files, but once she did, she began to summarize the life of our 'demonic killer'.

  “We could only follow him back a few years before the infirmary where he had spent all of his time in psychiatric care and the records all say the same thing as the report...He was a timid man who never spoke a word and was terribly withdrawn from society. We did find another man by the same name and almost identical age who was a soldier with the Confederate Army of Northern Virgini
a, under General Robert E. Lee. He was one of several troops who joined Beauregard and had a victory in the battle that took the Charleston Federal Fort. Other than that he had a pretty normal life as far as we can tell. Both parents survived through most of his life, he had one sister named Elizabeth but there is no record of her death. This Mr. Adam Clayborne was sent to West Virginia with an entire battalion of men. No one knows exactly what happened, but the entire encampment was slaughtered without a single shot being fired. The most mysterious thing about his history is that he was not among the casualties, and no one knew what ever became of him...unless we just figured it out.” She paused.

  “If he witnessed the massacre, it could explain his conditions... maybe that's why he was so withdrawn.” I offered up one possibility. “And I've heard of people being 'mute' after witnessing a horrific tragedy. Sort of a Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder, thing.” Theo added. “That's kinda what we thought too.” Katie chimed in. “There is no direct proof, but me and Jenn really think this is our guy...and while it doesn't necessarily explain why he would suddenly snap, it's the closest match we could find.”

  “It may not be rock solid evidence, but if we assume this is the same guy, we can also make the assumption that he could have taken all of that fear and negative energy with him to the Infirmary. That is, if I can make a third assumption? If he witnessed the massacre and escaped, he could have taken those energies with him.” I was tongue tied and confused over my own words, though in my head the thoughts and ideas were crystal clear. “Did any of that crap I said make any sense to anybody?”

  “It made sense to me. If this is our Adam, and he saw the massacre, he could have left the scene with an attachment...he could have even had the spirits of some, or hypothetically even all, of the soldiers follow him where ever he went.” Theo had made a good point and clarified what I was trying to say.

  “Well then...” Jenn sighed. “I think everybody knows what everybody else knows now, right?” She looked directly at me. “That's everything I know of.” I said honestly. “I'll let you know as soon as I have anything else, and if you find anything out about our Madison Taylor, give me a call, or email or something.”