Chapter 28
“Creepy,” was Brody’s first word as they stood gazing at the ruins.
“But also compelling in a strange sort of way,” Theodosia said.
Brick pillars, dark and pitted with age, supported crumbling brick walls that looked more like ancient battlements than the ghost of a ruined church.
Shrouded in heavy mist, the old church sat on a heavy carpet of dark green lawn and was guarded by a forest of twisting live oaks.
The whole site exuded an almost primordial feel, as if ancient peoples had built this strange place, occupied it for a short time, then fled.
“What are we supposed to do now?” Brody wondered.
“I’m not sure.” Theodosia suddenly felt a wave of dread roll over her, as if the old ruins had broadcast a warning: Don’t come in here. Stay away; it’s not safe.
Theodosia and Brody stood there, nonplussed, as the dark woods seemed to press in on them. And with sheets of rain still coming down, practically soaking them to the bone, it was difficult to see and almost impossible to hear. Basically nothing about this place felt safe.
“It’s freezing out here and I don’t have a jacket,” Theodosia said.
“Here, take this.” Brody slipped off his quilted nylon Barbour vest and handed it to her.
“Thanks.” Theodosia put it on and instantly felt more comfortable. Then she said, “Maybe we should, um, walk in?”
So they ventured into the ruins, walking on soggy ground past columns that looked ready to collapse.
At one point, Brody stopped, cupped a hand to his mouth, and called out, “Amber!” Then, “Is anybody here?”
There seemed to be a faint echo but it was smothered immediately by the rain and oppressive gloom.
“This is awful,” Brody said. “Do you see anything at all that would give us a hint of what to do? Do you have any idea where we should be going?”
“Let’s walk all the way through the ruins and see if anyone’s here—or been here.” By anyone, Theodosia meant either Amber or her mysterious kidnapper.
Passing through the ruins, footsteps squishing as they went, they found themselves standing among several graves. These ancient tablets were canted and tipped crazily in every direction, while long-ago epitaphs had been ground away by time and weather.
“Do you see anything?” Brody asked.
“I don’t see a thing.” Theodosia’s heart had begun to thud inside her chest like a timpani drum. Her nerves had definitely ratcheted up.
“Wait,” Brody said in a strained, low voice. “What’s that?” He lifted a hand and pointed at something off in the distance.
Theodosia peered through the mist, trying to see what Brody was pointing at.
But the rain was pelting down harder now, soaking her hair and clothes, making everything uncomfortable and creating an eerie mist that seemed almost impenetrable.
She took a few steps forward, her loafers sinking into tall, wet grass.
Instantly, shivers rose up her spine. Then she blinked, wiped away the rain as best she could, and finally saw what Brody had been pointing at.
A strange something up ahead that looked like a hazy white circle.
What is that? Part of a grave that’s been vandalized?
Theodosia walked toward the ghostly circle, Brody right behind her. And gradually, slowly, the circle shimmered into view.
“I think it’s a wreath,” Theodosia said.
In fact, it was a white wreath, the kind of bristly memorial wreath you find in hardware stores right before Easter or Memorial Day. The kind you take to a cemetery and set on a grave.
“That is so weird,” Theodosia said. “I didn’t think there were any graves back here.”
“There aren’t,” Brody said. He’d started to shiver, and every few seconds Theodosia could hear his teeth chatter.
Walking carefully, treading on wet, slippery leaves, they closed in on the white wreath that looked so incongruous in the dark forest. When they were within a few feet, they saw that the wreath was mounted on a black metal tripod.
There was also something fluttering in the wind.
At first Theodosia thought it must be a ribbon, then she realized it was a piece of paper.
“There’s a note pinned to the wreath,” she said.
Brody moved forward and ripped the note off the wreath. They huddled together, both holding their breath, as they read the message. It had been printed out by computer and composed using a combination of characters.
The note said: Walk 30 paces ahead she felt more bedraggled than she ever had in her life. And she was worried, too.
Where’s Brody? Why isn’t he here? Did something happen to him?
Theodosia leaned against a pillar, shivering, trying to figure out what to do next. Go back to the car? Call the police? What?
That’s when an arm reached out and practically jerked her off her feet!