Chapter 3
Chapter Three
“Look at this scenery,” Harper said while facing the side window of Natalie’s car. “Isn’t it gorgeous?” she asked, finally pivoting to face Natalie behind the wheel.
“New York is pretty gorgeous too,” Natalie reminded her.
“Yes. But this is… different. Ooo. Look. We’re almost there,” Harper squeaked when the exit for Salem sign came into view.
Yes, they were almost there, but Natalie couldn’t rally the level of enthusiasm Harper showed for their impending arrival and that was for a number of reasons.
One, she could only guess what was going to be in store for her on this panel of experts… and most of her guesses were not good.
Two, Mudville was haunted enough. But Salem? Home of history’s most infamous witch burnings. It could only offer a literal hell scape to a person with Natalie’s particular skill set.
Harper might be enjoying this road trip, but Natalie, holding on to a healthy dose of wariness, was doubtful.
But yes, admittedly it was pretty. Route 1A took them north along the coast. Natalie had to admit the glimpses of the ocean view were pretty nice.
Finally, the scenery gradually shifted and they began to see older clapboard houses that gave the feel of a quaint, lived-in historical neighborhood. But the area was not all that much different than the historic district in Mudville.
At least not much different until they hit the waterfront. Finally they saw the first indications of the tourist industry that no doubt supported this area.
The smell of the sea-laden air permeating the car even with the windows closed added to the seafaring atmosphere.
Here the history was apparent. It made Natalie picture old sea captains and even older ships anchored in the harbor where seagulls cried above as they soared against the sun in the cloudless blue sky.
And as the history surrounded them so did the ghosts…
Now she didn’t need to imagine the sailors. They were right there on the waterfront along with dockworkers and what she assumed from their clothing were ladies of the evening.
All were dressed for the period in which they’d lived.
All wore the same expression. That of annoyance.
Resolve. Displeasure. It was what differentiated them from the living costumed tour guides scattered among them dressed in not too dissimilar outfits, but wearing the smiles of those who earned a living from pleasing their visitors.
Navigating through the increasingly crowded streets more slowly now, Natalie made sure not to stare at any one of the spirits and tip them off that she could see them.
These weren’t her ghosts. She trusted the Mudville spirits. Called many of them friends. But she had no idea how Salem’s spirit community would react to her. And she had zero delusions that being inside a vehicle could keep a determined spirit away should they come after her.
As much as she dreaded the upcoming panel, she couldn’t wait to get where they were going as the streets narrowed and the buildings became visibly older. More historic… and no doubt more haunted.
Harper gasped with pleasure from behind her cell phone as she took one photo after another of the buildings they passed. Some brick. Some wood. Often marked with signs to guide the many visitors who roamed among the shops and museums. “Look at these buildings. So old. There’s so much history here.”
“You’re right.” Natalie couldn’t argue. There was a palpable sense of age. Of history. Of the dead…
“These two days are going to be amazing!” Harper continued.
For Harper, this trip probably would be amazing. But Harper was here to experience history through architecture. Preserved brick and mortar. Shingles and clapboard. Cobblestones.
Natalie was having a very different experience.
As she carefully wove through the traffic, the bicycles and the pedestrians, Natalie could see what Harper didn’t…
Salem, Massachusetts was positively teeming with spirits.
More than she’d ever seen in one place, and that included the cemetery on Main Street and the ghost party she and Liam had been invited to.
And when instinct from years of driving amid livings had her slamming on the brakes when a couple of ghosts strolled in front of her car, the spirit world of Salem discovered that she could see them too.
“Uh, oh.” Natalie breathed as the elderly pair spun to glare at her through the windshield.
Harper, hand braced on the dash in reaction to Natalie almost putting her through the window by suddenly braking, spun to stare at her. “Uh, oh, what? What’s happening. Why did you stop?”
“So you know that Salem history you’re so excited to see?” Natalie asked, eyes wide as the grouping of spirits in front of them pressed closer, surrounding the car on all sides.
“Yeah,” Harper said slowly.
“It’s excited to see us too.”
“What does that mean?” Harper asked, the panic evident in the rise of her tone.
“They know I can see them.”
“They meaning ghosts?” She’d whispered the last word.
“Yup. And I’m not sure they’re all happy about it.”
“H…how many?” Harper asked, her voice cracking.
“Lost count a couple of dozen ago.”
“Uh, oh,” Harper said, echoing Natalie’s initial reaction. “What do we do?”
The blare of a horn reminded Natalie she’d stopped in the middle of the road for no apparent reason as far as the other drivers could tell.
Knuckles still white from gripping the steering wheel, Natalie knocked herself out of her ghost mob stupor and eased her foot off the brake and onto the gas.
The ghosts had moved to stare at her through the side window which was creepy as hell but at least they were out of her way so she didn’t have to drive through them.
Grateful to put distance between her and them, she hit the accelerator. “We go to the hotel and check in.”
Not that she believed The Salem Inn was going to be any less haunted than the rest of the town…
“Then what?” Harper asked what was admittedly a valid question.
Natalie navigated down the street at a crawl, no longer stopping for the spirits that stood defiantly unmoving in front of her, but still flinching as she drove through them.
A cloud covered the sun and her surroundings took on an even more eerie feel. She shook off the chill running down her spine with a shudder.
“I’ll figure something out,” she said.
Harper shot her a doubt-filled glance. Natalie didn’t believe her own words. Why should Harper?
She winced as the car’s hood passed through one smoke blackened female spirit wearing a charred wool skirt. Natalie swallowed hard and realized what a colossal mistake coming here had been.
The Salem Inn finally came into view. Not a single building but instead what appeared to be a hotel comprised of three historical structures. Old ones. Every one with the potential for countless spirits.
Great.
Too late to turn back now, Natalie parked and quickly grabbed her bag out of the back seat, leaving Harper to deal with her own luggage.
Curiosity traversed the boundary between living and dead. The Salem spirit information network seemed to spread the news of Natalie’s arrival even faster than the Mudville gossip mill. The gathering cluster of spirits outside the hotel was evidence of that.
Head down, she avoided eye contact with the spirits as she walked faster than ever toward the main entrance.
So far, at least, they’d kept their distance. They didn’t approach, but they stared. An intense, piercing lifeless stare that chilled her to her very soul.
When she finally reached the door, she yanked it wide and slipped inside.
Glancing around, the ghost to living ratio was a lot more favorable. One sat in the corner, not even looking at her. Thank goodness for small favors.
Natalie’s gratitude took a tumble when she stopped to read the sign that greeted her just inside the hotel’s entrance.
Welcome to the Salem Inn
voted the most haunted lodging in Salem
She groaned.
“Checking in?” the front desk attendant’s question startled her out of her own thoughts.
“Yes, please.” She moved closer to the front desk and dropped the handle of her bag. “Natalie Chase. The Salem Historical Society booked my room.”
“Yes. I have your reservation right here and don’t worry, I won’t give you room 17,” he said with a wink.
“Why? What’s wrong with room 17?” Coming up behind her, Harper asked the question Natalie wasn’t sure she wanted the answer to.
“It’s reputed to be haunted by the spirit of a woman who died tragically. Although she usually only bothers male guests and generally leaves the ladies alone. We believe she is either named Katherine or Elizabeth.”
Natalie hated to tell him there were plenty of ghosts all over this place. Not just good old Katherine or Elizabeth. And they definitely did not restrict themselves to room 17.
“Will you be parking a car with us today?”
“Yes. My event this afternoon is at Hamilton Hall. Is that walking distance from the Inn?” she asked, hoping to not have the horror of driving amid the dead again today.
“Definitely. It’s about a five-minute walk.
Ten if you take your time to see the sights along the way.
Let me give you a map. I can mark the most direct route.
” He took out a yellow highlighter and drew on the paper map.
“I’ll also mark the Old Burying Ground. Lots of visitors enjoy walking through there and it’s right on your way. ”
“Great,” Natalie mumbled beneath her breath earning her a sideways glance from Harper who looked far less excited about the existence of ghosts today.
The desk clerk continued, “Hamilton Hall is right on Chestnut Street. I circled it. Here you go. And could you please fill this out?” The clerk slid a pen and paper across the desk to her.
After Natalie filled out the paperwork, and somehow remembered the license plate number on her car, the clerk accepted the form and slid the keys across the desk. “You’re in room 22. That’s on the second floor. The elevator is just to your right. I’ve given you two keys.”
“Thank you,” Natalie said, turning to hand one of the keys to Harper.
When she turned from the desk, what she saw frightened a yelp out of her as she spotted a child standing next to Harper.
She would have liked to believe he was a living boy but the pale skin, the sunken eyes, the bones visible beneath the skin under the tattered rags he wore told her otherwise.
He moved closer. Uncomfortably close. Putting himself in the already small space between her and Harper. Ghost children had no concept of personal space. She’d learned that with Clara, the vaudeville performer at the Stanley Theater in Utica who’d died much too young.
“Can I have some space, please?” she grit out between her teeth.
Looking shocked, Harper took a step back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize—”
“No, Harper. Not you.” Natalie shook her head.
Harper’s eyes widened. “You mean…”
“Yes.”
“Here?”
“Everywhere.”
Harper went completely still. As if that would make her invisible to the dead? “I’m starting to think we shouldn’t have come,” she whispered.
Natalie couldn’t have agreed more, then she saw Harper’s concerned expression and dismissed her fears for her friend’s sake. “I’m just twitchy from the long drive. I’ll do the panel. Then we’ll have an amazing dinner.”
“Dinner with lots of drinks since we’re walking, not driving,” Harper added.
“Definitely. Then tomorrow we’ll be home. It’ll all be fine. I’m fine.”
Fine… once she got away from the ghost child.
Natalie averted her eyes and pretended they weren’t there. Not the child. Not the woman who’d come up to stand near the child. And not the ghost of a black cat weaving its way in and out of their feet and through the solid front desk.
“Nat?”
When she glanced up and saw Harper’s eyes wide as she stared at her face, Natalie realized she must not have done a good job of pretending.
“What’s happening?” Harper mouthed.
Natalie pressed her lips tight and shook her head. Taking a big step away from the child, she asked with fake cheer, “Ready to head to the room?”
“Yeah, sure,” Harper said slowly.
“Good.” She could only hope their room would be a ghost free zone. Although when she saw the faces pressed against the front windows staring at her from outside, she figured her odds were not looking good.