Abandoned Souls

by Marianne Spitzer

  Marilyn had the same idea and dressed similarly in jeans, sweater, and jogging shoes. She had made a warm breakfast for both of them. Kellie needed coffee. As the young women ate breakfast, they discussed their planned excursion. Marilyn suggested they add a jacket to their outfits since the wind was unpredictable up on the hill, and they might need them. Kellie swallowed the last of her coffee and said, “I’m ready when you are. Do you have any trepidation about going back into the cemetery?”

  “I haven’t been there since I was six, I’m not sure. Being kidnapped and then lost on my own was frightening, but I’m an adult now. I should be brave right?” She laughed as she slipped on her jacket.

  “Maybe. I should be brave, too, but a lot of things scare me. At least we’ll be together.” She gave Marilyn her most reassuring smile.

  #####

  The phone rang, and Marilyn said, “I should get that before we leave. Caller ID says it is the sheriff’s office.”

  She listened intently to the voice on the other end of the phone frowning most of the time. When she placed the phone back on the table, she looked at Kellie, “The sheriff had information about the man they found in my yard.”

  “You look as if what he said upset you.”

  Marilyn removed her jacket and sat back down. “He said the man’s name was Howard Maxwell. He died of a heroin overdose.”

  “Who would overdose on heroin just before trying to break into someone’s home? I can see they might do it after. At least it is the sheriff’s mystery to solve.”

  “It gets worse. It seems that Howard Maxwell and my kidnapper, Clifford Shuland, were cell mates while Maxwell was in the state prison for manslaughter.” Marilyn’s hands cradled her cheeks, and she held back tears. “What if he were here to finish what Shuland started? There could be another.”

  “I doubt that. It may be possible Shuland told Maxwell about you and for some twisted reason he decided to either rob you or worse as revenge for his friend. Who knows what type of relationship they had.” Kellie reached for Marilyn’s hand and tried to calm her.

  “No one could ever find out why I was kidnapped and why Shuland turned himself in for doing it. He just left me in the cemetery and walked to the sheriff’s station.” Marilyn drummed her fingers on the table. “I don’t remember him since he covered my head. I remember pulling tape off my mouth and eyes after he left. In some of my nightmares, I think I hear a second voice, but I’m not able to understand it.”

  “Maybe they were working together. If that’s the case, the other man might still be out there. He may also have kidnapped other children.”

  “That’s something I found out recently on-line. No one spoke about my kidnapping when I came home, and they kept me isolated except for school. School was isolated, too. Extra teachers for security that I thought were because of me, but on-line I found articles about other children. I was the fourth child kidnapped, and the only one ever found. Three children disappeared into the night without a trace.” Marilyn shuddered.

  “It sounds as if it might be a pedophile. They have always been around. We hear more about them now, and the media covers the stories and reach broader audiences.”

  “That may be true, but I also found there might be some truth to the legend of the abandoned cemetery.”

  “What?” Kellie’s mouth twisted as she looked at Marilyn.

  “I guess I forgot to tell you. There’s a small section of the cemetery under an old brick bridge. I thought it was a legend because people say its unhallowed ground, and the people buried there are best forgotten. The internet again gave me a bit of information about the town’s strange past.”

  “I’m almost afraid to ask.”

  “There was no concrete information about what it was, but something overtook many of the town’s people. The article alluded to something evil. They buried the afflicted under the bridge. I’ve never been there so I can’t tell you if it’s true or not.”

  “We were planning on going to the cemetery; we might as well check it out. Ready?”

  “Yes,” Marilyn said as she slipped her coat on a second time.

  Chapter Six

  It was a gradual incline to the top of the hill. The cemetery spread out before them. It was larger than it appeared from the house. They walked through a few stands of trees and several open areas filled with tombstones. Many dated back to the early eighteen-hundreds. When they reached the road, they followed it to the bridge. Kellie needed to see the headstones.

  The slope to the dry creek bed wasn’t steep, and both young women had no problem negotiating the climb down. Kellie meandered through the headstones. They were placed in haphazard patterns as if the bodies were buried quickly. She was shocked by the lack of any information on the headstones. Each was perfectly smooth.

  Marilyn said, “It appears that nothing was ever carved on any of these stones. How will anyone ever know who is buried here or why? These people have been forgotten by the town and quite possibly their families.”

  “I don’t know how to identify these abandoned souls,” Kellie replied. “What bothers me is they are buried in unhallowed ground. If we discover why they’re here, we might learn their names and perhaps this part of the cemetery can be blessed.” She stood and stared at the nameless tombstones.

  “Would you help do that?”

  “Of course, wouldn’t you?” Kellie asked Marilyn.

  “What, I didn’t say anything.” Marilyn turned to look in Kellie’s direction.

  “Didn’t you ask me if I would help get the cemetery blessed?” Kellie bit her lip waiting for a response.

  “No, are you all right?” Marilyn knitted her brows when she looked at her friend.

  “Yes, but I think I just heard a spirit.”

  “What? They say this place is haunted. I’m going back up to the road.”

  As Kellie watched her friend climb the hill, she whispered, “I heard you. When I find the answers, I will be back to help.”

  She quickly followed Marilyn.

  #####

  Kellie meandered through the beautifully carved headstones. There were angels and crosses in different shapes. Most were stone, but she could see many were marble monuments. Some were five feet high with a family surname and several smaller stones with birth names surrounding them.

  Marilyn walked close to Kellie and read names and dates. “All of these have first and last names. They also have birth and death dates. Many say ‘beloved husband or wife.’ A few are children and read ‘devoted son’ or ‘darling daughter.’ I have found a few with just one date. They must be infants who died at birth.”

  “Walking through a cemetery shows a lot of history, but there’s also a lot of sadness. I can imagine the tears shed here. Whenever I visit my parent’s graves, I still cry and usually I see someone else crying near another grave.” Kellie inhaled deeply when she saw a stone with two names and one date. “I found twins that died at birth. It’s getting a bit emotional. Let’s stop meandering and check out the mausoleums.” She turned to walk to the nearest one.

  #####

  Marilyn stood several feet from the mausoleum entrance. “I’m not sure I want to go in there. When I was lost in this cemetery, I swear someone entered and exited one of these. I don’t know which one since he blindfolded me.”

  “That’s okay, I’ll go in.” Kellie entered the smallest mausoleum and saw there were four crypts marked with names and dates. Walking out she said, “It’s a family, husband, wife, two sons. I guess.”

  As they walked to the next mausoleum, they chatted about everyday life and only stopped at the tombstones that caught their interest. Most had carved angels. Some with wings outstretched and some with wings wrapped tightly. Unfortunately, time had taken its toll, and many of the sculptures were cracked or broken.

  “I think I’ll go with you this time,” Marilyn said as they approached a somewhat larger mausoleum.

  The iron gate was a bit rusty, but Kellie was able to open it. “Okay,
let’s go.”

  Dust kicked up when they entered. “This is the same as the last. I don’t think anyone has been in here for a long time,” Kellie said.

  “I doubt it. Look at the dates. Last one is mid nineteen hundred. I think the new cemetery opened in the nineteen thirties or forties.”

  Kellie said, “That’s a helpful clue. I think all the unmarked tombstones were placed there before the new cemetery. They’re old-fashioned stone with curved tops. I went to your grandma’s funeral, and the cemetery has the new brass plates that lay flush with the ground.”

  “You’re right. No one talks about it, but rumor has it they were buried around the turn of the century when the town was new and small.”

  “It must have been an odd occurrence to bury them yet supply headstones. If people thought they were evil, wouldn’t you think they’d pick a faraway spot without markings? Someone wanted them remembered.”

  “I never thought about it that way,” Marilyn said as she stepped over a large twig. “It’s a mystery all right. Maybe the unmarked stones are a warning to stay away.”

  “You could be right, but if people were afraid they would’ve placed one marker of some sort, most likely a wooden cross with a warning carved into it. Those stones weren’t cheap.”

  Marilyn nodded, “I’ve seen that in movies. People afraid of the dead don’t usually do nice things once they’re dead.”

  “The biggest mystery is why he kidnapped you when you were six, why you ended up here in the cemetery alone, what’s triggering your nightmares, and what’s causing the strange lights we saw here last night.” She turned to look at Marilyn.

  “My doctor says anxiety. The pastor at the church thinks it is grief over losing grandma. I think I might be going crazy.” She fought the tears she felt in the corner of her eyes.

  “You haven’t spent much time here in years and certainly not alone until you inherited the house. Maybe all this time here is bringing up some repressed memories. Anything’s possible.”

  “Could be,” Marilyn said. “Those nightmares feel like memories. I hope we find answers.”

  Kellie hugged her friend and said, “We will. Are you ready to explore the last and largest mausoleum? It looks like a small house.”

  Marilyn turned and looked back toward her house and could see the second floor windows. If she could see home, she was safe. “I’m ready. I think. What if the entire cemetery is haunted?”

  “I don’t feel spirits anywhere except under the bridge. At least I’m not dealing with a haunted house this time. You haven’t seen ghosts in the house have you?”

  “Heaven’s no!” That brought a smile to Marilyn’s face. “I would have left immediately.”

  “Okay, just checking. I’ll go first.”

  #####

  Kellie walked up to the six foot high ornate metal gates that opened outward at the entrance to the mausoleum of the town’s oldest family. The family name, Carnfelder, was engraved above the gates.

  Marilyn said, “I’m not sure what happened to the family. There isn’t anyone by that name still in town.”

  “We can check the Vital Records Department at the courthouse and find out. They may have died out early. The library should also have information.” Kellie looked at the rusty hinges and wondered how difficult it was going to be to open the large gates.

  She gripped the handle on one of the gates and pulled hard. To Kellie’s surprise it opened as if the gates had freshly oiled hinges “That was easy. Let’s go.” She stepped into the huge mausoleum.

  Marilyn followed Kellie and noticed the inside resembled a small chapel. In the wall opposite the doors was set a beautiful stained glass window. Beneath the window was a small table. Several partially burned candles sat on the table. The walls on both sides held six crypts each and in the center of the mausoleum was a large crypt with the name, Elroy Carnfelder, carved near the head of the crypt along with the date 1852- .

  Kellie said, “There isn’t any death date. He can’t still be alive. If he had this crypt, why would he be buried somewhere else? Can you jot down the date? Oh, and the names on the other crypts? Only half of them are used. That’s odd, too.”

  “Got it,” Marilyn said as she jotted down the names and dates in a small notebook she carried in her pocket.

  A sudden wind blew up, and leaves blew in circles near the entrance. The doors to the mausoleum were heavy, but the wind blew them closed. Marilyn walked over to push them back open.

  “Hey, Kellie. They won’t open. I think they’re locked from the outside.”

  Kellie tried the gates, and they were locked tight. She couldn’t find a lock on the outside. “Well, we may get in trouble, but I guess we need to call for help. Check your phone. I don’t have any bars. Do you?”

  “No,” Marilyn responded. “We’re trapped.”

  “Don’t panic. We’ll figure something out.”

  #####

  An hour later they were both stuck in the mausoleum sitting on top of Elroy’s crypt to stay warmer. The breeze was blowing dust around the floor. Marilyn was doing her best not to sneeze.

  “We haven’t seen anyone all day. No one comes up here. How are we going to get out?” Marilyn’s voice was beginning to sound a bit shaky.

  “I’m not sure. Let me try to open them one more time.”

  Kellie gripped the bars and did her best to summon her power, but without any luck. She took a deep breath remembering Claudia had told her the power came from within her. Trying with every ounce of strength she could, the bars wouldn’t budge.

  She turned to Marilyn and said, “I can’t summon any power to open the gates.”

  “What do you think is causing the locked gates when we can’t find a lock and why doesn’t that power you told me about work in here?”

  “I’m not sure what’s keeping it locked. If there’s a spirit here, I would feel it. Also, if they were being held by a spirit my “power” as you refer to it should open the gates. I’m only able to summon it to protect myself. I’m not experiencing any warning of danger except being stuck in here.” Kellie jumped off the crypt to take another look at the gates. “It could be a strong spirit has placed a spell on the gates. I wouldn’t feel the spirit since it has left. I don’t understand why they would lock the gates.”

  “A spirit? Why would a spirit want us trapped here? You have to find a way to get us out,” Marilyn said.

  Kellie answered, “These crypts were all equipped with a lock to keep out body snatchers or jewelry thieves. It is an expensive crypt; it may have a lock we can’t find. A hidden lock wouldn’t be unusual. I just don’t know what or how they work.”

  Marilyn hopped off the crypt. She walked up to one of the walls of smaller crypts. “This place will drive me crazy when it gets dark. I might fall asleep and have a nightmare. If I wake up in here, I’ll go mad.” She hit the cover of the empty crypt nearest the wall with her hand. “There has to be something that could help us pry open those gates.”

  The cover popped open silently. Its century old hinges moved without a squeak.

  “That’s weird,” said Kellie. “I would expect it to be rusted shut.” She opened it fully and glanced inside.

  Holding up the lantern she had brought along, Kellie shone the light into the crypt. It was empty, and there was a wooden ladder leading down further than she could see.

  #####

  Marilyn ran to the locked gates and shook them as hard as she could. “We have to get out. What if there is something terrible down there? Help! Help!”

  “Please calm down. No one is outside. I don’t think there is anyone down there. It might be an escape route of some sort.”

  “Are you joking?” Marilyn was still gripping the gates. “Why would anyone need an escape route?”

  “Several reasons,” Kellie answered. “Perhaps someone thought they would wake up in their crypt and needed a way to escape since the gates seem to lock securely. It could be a lover of someone buried here who needed
a way to sneak in and out to visit their loved one.”

  “Maybe, but how would a person build an escape route under the mausoleum? Wouldn’t the builders ask questions?”

  “Hmm,” Kellie said, “maybe they were paid off.”

  “Could be, but it is getting weird. I want to go home. I still don’t have any bars on my phone,” Marilyn said.

  “Me either. Maybe the only way out is through the escape tunnel, if there is one.”

  “You’re not going down there, are you?”

  “I think it’s our only option,” Kellie said. “Otherwise we might be stuck in here for days. No one knows we came up here.”

  Kellie attached the lantern to her jacket and climbed into the open crypt. She leaned forward and grabbed the ladder. Glancing over her shoulder at Marilyn she said, “I hope the wood hasn’t rotted away somewhere on the way down.”

  Marilyn ran over to the open crypt to watch Kellie descend the ladder.

  When Kellie reached the bottom, she called up to Marilyn, “There is a tunnel down here, and the ladder is solid. It appears some of the rungs were replaced recently. We should find out what this place is and leave before that someone comes back. I can shine the lantern up the ladder, and you can see to climb down.”

  “Okay, I’ll try, but I don’t like it one bit.” Marilyn climbed into the opening and grabbed the ladder. She reached back and swung the crypt door closed. The lantern light coming from the bottom of the ladder was enough for her to see her way down.

  Halfway down, Marilyn heard the wood creak and panicked. “I can’t move. The ladder is going to break. I’ll fall and die down here alone.”

  Kellie said gently, “It didn’t break when I climbed down, and I also heard the creaking. It’s old but solid. You’re almost down. If you go back up, you’ll be stuck in the locked mausoleum. Come on I can see your leg. I’ll put my hand on it to reassure you. Don’t scream, it’s only me.”

  “All right,” Marilyn began to laugh as she dropped off the last rung to the floor. “Maybe I am having anxiety attacks in my sleep. I become afraid so easily.”