A Dash of Halloween

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

T he town of Oriskany Falls was a kaleidoscope of color and sound as Halloween night unfolded. The streets buzzed with excitement, children darting between houses in elaborate costumes while adults mingled at the festival booths lining the town square. Lanterns carved into grinning faces flickered in the cool night air, casting dancing shadows that seemed almost alive. Overhead, the long-awaited Blue Moon hung heavy and luminous, its glow bathing the town in white light.

Blackwood Manor opened its gates earlier in the day and a steady stream of fright seekers passed through. Dash overheard many of them discussing previous years and wondering what new elements Slate had added this year.

Outsiders flocked to the town for its annual over-the-top Halloween celebration. Most of the visitors lived in the surrounding areas, but some travelled much greater distances based on Oriskany Falls’ reputation. This year’s Halloween Blue Moon drew a larger crowd than usual.

At the urging of Slate and Liv, Dash took an early tour of the town. The thing that stood out most was how much fun everyone had. The children racing between houses, accompanied by smiling parents, reminded him of happier family memories. Even people working booths or attraction seemed to have a good time.

The first time he visited the festival Dash felt out of place without a costume. Now he blended in with the others. Most of his outfit he borrowed from Slate, which was appropriate since they wanted to wear similar clothes. The tailored black frock coat adorned with intricate silver embroidery was a bit big owing to Slate’s more muscular build, but it fit well enough. Hidden beneath, Dash wore a period-style white shirt with a complimentary dark waistcoat that was cinched in the back to hug his torso. They’d managed to find some period pants, and Slate had a large collection of top hats any gentleman of that time would be happy to wear. Completing the outfit, Dash wore a pair of black leather boots he’d polished well enough the moon reflected off them.

Keeping in character, he tipped his hat to people who made eye contact. Most smiled, or complimented his costume, and even Mrs. Finch had positive things to say about his attire.

By the time he arrived back at the Manor, the number of people waiting to get in had gotten considerably larger. He bypassed the line, and met Slate on the porch. A warm hand slipped into his as they greeted their guests. Dash hadn’t expected to be a host, but Slate said they were together, and it was what couples did in those days.

They walked around to the back to hear what people said when they left. Most of the comments were very positive. The locals made a point to tell Slate it was the best one they could remember. Some of the out of town guests had negative comments, but most centered on it wasn’t as scary as they’d hoped. Dash wondered what they’d say if the veil broke open and swarms of freed spirits swirled around them.

"Ready?" Slate asked softly.

Just after 11:00 p.m., Liv approached with a box of candles, chalk, and salt. Dash had tucked the E.R.P. journal inside his coat. He wanted it with them in case they needed to refer to it at the last minute.

“We should set up,” she said. “The peak is in less than an hour.”

Dash checked his watch, but he didn’t need to tell the others they only had forty-six minutes.

The trio entered the manor, weaving through the revelers who remained blissfully unaware of the potential danger they might face. The manor was a labyrinth of shadows and flickering candlelight. Decorations hung from the high ceilings, a blend of festive and eerie. Dash heard the distant sounds of laughter, shrieks, and the orchestrated clamor of manufactured scares.

The air grew colder as they entered the house. Slate kept it cooler for added effect on the attraction, but Dash had passed through several colder patches. Dash saw signs of ghostly activity including ozone that tickled his nose and a thick fog of spiritual energy everywhere he looked.

“Is it my imagination, or is there more activity than usual in the house?” Dash asked.

“You’re not imagining things,” Slate said. “Spirits are drawn to places where the veil is thinnest. It’s possible a number of ghost will try to rush through if there’s an opening.”

Dash pictured a stream of ghost whizzing past them as they raced toward their goal. “Will they try to stop us from closing the breach?”

“No one knows what they’re going to do, but if we stay focused, they can’t stop us.”

They made their way to the heart of the manor, a grand hall seldom used save for the most significant occasions. Slate locked doors as they passed to ensure no human guests stumbled upon them while they were working.

The room was cavernous, with towering windows that framed the Blue Moon perfectly. Liv arranged the candles in a precise pattern Slate had set out. Dash and Slate drew intricate symbols on the floor in white chalk, referring to the E.R.P. book for guidance.

As they worked, the back of Dash’s neck tingled in the way he’d come to associate with a spirit close to him. Every time he looked up, shadows flickered oddly in the dark corners of the room, and whispers he couldn’t quite understand teased his hearing. He also sensed restrained energy nearby. It was a new sensation, and given what he’d learned recently, he didn’t think it was a good thing.

“Do you feel that?” he asked Slate. “It’s like someone trying to push open a door being held shut.”

“That’s a good description,” he replied. “They can feel the veil is weakening.”

They quickly finished their preparations. Slate and Dash made their way into the center of the circle, careful not to step on any of the chalk lines. They joined hands and Slate's energies flowed into Dash. Merging his essence into Slate’s, he pushed the combined energy back. The process repeated itself until it was impossible to tell where his life force began and Slate’s ended.

They started the ritual, reciting the words they’d practiced for days. Candles flickered as the veil became visible. The thin whisp of white light in the center was the weakness Esmerelda’s attempt had created. On either side of the vulnerable space was a dense fog that looked like fluffy white clouds on a sunny day. Dash reached out to the left side while Slate took hold of the right. Together, they began moving the two sides closer.

Slowly, the thinned space shrank. They’d reduced the opening about a quarter of the way when the momentum stopped. It felt like someone had stood between the two sides and held them apart.

A violent wind erupted from the other side of the veil. It whipped through the hall, extinguishing three candles and scattering lighter objects around the room. The temperature plummeted so rapidly that frost formed on the windows. Dark shadows writhed just beyond the opening, hissing at the pair.

Dash ignored them at first, keeping his attention on the ritual. The book his grandfather had given them stressed that once the ritual began, stopping would open them to being possessed. Dash considered that worse than dying.

Slate tightened his grip on Dash’s hand and strained to bring the sides of the rift closer. The wind howled, buffeting Dash’s face and chilling him deep inside. The two strained to overcome the resistence and the opening closed a tiny bit more. But it wasn’t enough.

The pressure on the other side increased, threatening to unravel all of Dash and Slate’s work. A feeling of desperation seeped through the rift, and Dash understood what they faced. Twice the spirits had been thwarted in their attempts to break through. If the opening was sealed, they’d lose their only avenue to the living world.

The foul thoughts coming from the other side explained why Ezra Reeves abandoned his wife and newborn son and sacrificed himself to close the rift. These were truly dark souls who’d been forced out of the world. They were trapped in a place that ignored them. Only if they could return could they feel free again.

Dash’s hold on his side was weakening, and he saw the darkness seeping through the veil to grasp the frame of the opening. In that moment, Dash knew what he had to do.

A century ago, Ezra made the decision his sacrifice was worth barring such pain and misery from his family and friends. His conviction was so strong, he left behind a son who would never know his father. Could Dash do any less?

He could end this with one act. A step into the opening and use his life force to seal the breach. His sacrifice would build on Ezra’s and would close the rift for good.

The thought of leaving Slate tore at his heart. He paused for a moment, but quickly decided protecting Slate and everyone else was all that mattered.

Dash tried to free his hand, but Slate’s grip became almost painful. “Don't you dare,” he said, his voice fierce with emotion. “Remember what we talked about. We're stronger together. I love you Dash. Believe in us.”

The truth in Slate's voice reached something deep inside Dash. All his life, he'd been afraid to truly connect with someone, afraid of becoming like his parents. He’d also realized something else. If Dash tried to go into the breach, Slate was coming with him.

Taking Slate with him wasn’t what Dash wanted. What good was sacrificing himself if Slate wasn’t saved?

Digging deeper, Dash opened himself fully to their connection. He channeled his love for Slate and all the joyed he’d experienced into his efforts.

Power surged between them, stronger than before. Their combined energy pushed back against the darkness, weakening the malevolent spirits hold on the living world.

The air around them cooled, but it didn’t chill Dash, it felt comforting and almost warm. A golden light appeared and grew steadily brighter. In the blink of an eye, Esmerelda Blackwood appeared before them.

Unlike the cold spectral figure with a willowy form that lurked in the shadows, this manifestation was solid and defined. She glowed from within, giving her an almost human appearance.

“Well done, my dears,” she said, her steady voice rang out clearly despite the supernatural chaos around them. “I knew you would find the way together.”

"You planned this?" Dash asked.

“More like nudged things along,” she said. A smile appeared, something Dash had never seen from a ghost. “I've been trying to guide you both since you arrived in Oriskany Falls. My mistake all those years ago was thinking I could create a controlled gateway alone. Ezra knew this and tried to warn me, but I foolishly ignored him. My unforgiveable actions cost my dear friend his life. I will keep the dark souls away so you can seal the rift forever.”

“You and I will keep them back, my friend,” a voice said from the other side. The image of a young man appeared surrounded by golden light. “It is time for you to come home Esmerelda. You’ve more than atoned for your mistake. Please come and be at peace. Gentry, Fiona and all the others are waiting for you.”

Before Esmerelda moved, a thin stream of white emerged from behind the veil and coiled its way around Dash’s feet. It slowly moved higher until it surrounded him. The mist seeped into Dash’s body. Ezra fixed his gaze on Dash.

“Do not seal the rift,” Ezra said. “Use the knowledge I just gave you to bring to fruition Esmerelda’s vision of a controlled gate. One that will keep the dark souls from your world and allow lost ones to find their way home.”

Esmerelda glanced back at them. “I wish you both a long life full of love and happiness.”

She turned and stepped into the space where the veil was thinnest. Ezra held out his hand and Esmerelda accepted. Her body transformed into a young woman, and she had a look of pure joy.

Dash watched as Esmerelda and Ezra reunited, their forms merging in a gentle embrace before both faded from view. In their wake, the oppressive pressure from the other side disappeared, leaving only a sense of peace.

The knowledge needed to carry out Ezra’s final request flooded into Dash’s mind. “I know what we need to do,” Dash said.

Using his connection to Slate, he guided them in redirecting the energy. Free of the pressure from the other side, the translucent light in the middle turned solid. Unsure what it should look like, Dash molded the energy into a barn door, with a large handle on the right side.

He guided Slate so that the breach was now a gate that they controlled. Dash knew it would take both of them to open this portal. One of them needed to keep the spectral side clear, while the other shepherded lost soul to their final rest.

The wind died away and the temperature returned to normal. Dash scanned the room, but the shadows were gone. The whispers had gone silent as well. Their new gateway was still visible, but he sensed only peace from the other side.

Liv broke the silence first. "That... that was incredible."

Slate brought their still joined hands to his lips and kissed the back of Dash’s hand. “You did it.”

“We did it,” Dash corrected. “I love you too, I was just too scared to tell you.”

“I didn’t need the words to know how you felt,” Slate said, his face a mirror of Dash’s joy. “Thank you for not giving up.”

Dash pulled Slate into a hug. “I’ll never give up as long as I have you,” he whispered into Slate’s ear. “You saved me again tonight.”

They clung to each other for a few more seconds, and then helped Liv snuff out the candles. When they finished, Dash opened his arms to give her a hug.

“We couldn’t have done this without you,” he said. “Thank you so much.”

A moment later, Slate joined him and they stood quietly for a few more seconds.

Under the light of the full moon still making its journey across the sky, they swept away the chalk, stowed the candles, and put the room back in order. The atmosphere felt lighter and their moods reflected the newfound peace.

Exiting into the main house, they helped escort the last of the guests through the attraction and collectively breathed a sigh of relief when the manor was empty.

“You know,” Dash said to Liv. “Now that this is over, it will be quiet enough for you to finish your PhD.”

“That’s right,” Slate said. “You just need to finish your thesis and defend it.”

Liv gave them both stink eye. “What are you two up to?”

“Just trying to encourage you to finish, is all,” Dash said. Slate nodded his agreement.

“You know how crazy it gets in my house,” Liv said. “I can’t hear the video clips at home, and the library doesn’t like when I play them there.”

“If only you had a quiet place all to yourself.” Slate tapped a finger to his chin.

“I know,” Dash said. “Since I’m practically living here, I could move in permanently and Liv could use my apartment. It’s paid for through September of next year.”

“Oh my God! Are you two serious?” Her voice was loud enough to wake the dead, which in Blackwood Manor, wasn’t that hard to do. “Yes! That would be so amazing. You two can help me move in next weekend.”

Dash laughed at how shocked Slate looked. “Did you expect her to need time to think it over?”

“No, but next weekend?” Slate’s voice was almost a whine.

“We could do it this weekend, if you prefer,” Liv said. She practically bounced over to them and pulled them into a hug. “You two are the best. I love you both.”

She released them and practically ran out the door to get started on her packing.

“That was a nice thing to do,” Slate said. “We both know the apartment is only paid for because you’re going to pay the rent.”

Dash shrugged. “The other option was to invite her to stay here. Blackwood’s a big house, but for a small person, Liv makes a lot of noise.”

“Sometimes we make a lot of noise,” Slate said.

Dash didn’t miss the innuendo and it fired up his libido. “Which is another reason we don’t need her living here.”

“I think it’s time we go to bed and make a bit of noise.”

Dash grabbed Slate’s hand and let himself be led upstairs. He had to admit, relationships with the right person were way better than living alone.