Chapter One. #2
“Crane was a major in the army whom Irving met, and the name stuck in his head. But the personality was based on a schoolmaster Irving once knew. While the legend is great for tourism, it’s just that, a tale.”
“So we won’t see the Headless Horseman?” Chey looked disappointed.
“Actually, we might. Recently, there’s been a rash of sightings around Sleepy Hollow, the Old Dutch Burial Grounds and the Headless Horseman Bridge.
It was originally a wooden structure, replaced in nineteen-twelve by a concrete one.
There have been reports of a headless figure riding a horse and chasing people over it. ”
I tapped the table. “A thought-form or Tulpa?”
“That was my conclusion,” Harry agreed.
“What are those?” Celt asked.
“A thought-form is where a person believes in something so much that they create an entity by the strength of their belief. It’s rare, but it happens.
A Tulpa is a manifestation created through intense meditation and concentration.
A group of people usually cause Tulpas. Basically, they’re the same, although a Tulpa can act independently, whereas a thought-form can, but not to the same degree,” I explained.
“And fans possibly wished the Headless Horseman into existence?” Celt sounded disbelieving, and I couldn’t blame him.
“Tulpas and thought-forms are rare, but I’ve heard of them. Never actually come across one, though,” I admitted, glancing at Jack and then Connor.
“Once. And they’re incredibly powerful,” Connor agreed.
Jack shook his head; he’d never crossed paths with one.
“There is a myth concerning a statue called the Bronze Lady in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, there’re a variety of legends around her.
They range from crying, hexing people, and having nightmares.
A shadow man and dog have been seen in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
And orbs and other strange incidents mark the grave of Washington Irvine.
A Lavender Lady is alleged to appear wringing her hands and searching for someone. ”
“Are they residual or intelligent?” Jack asked.
“Again, reports vary. It’s something we’re going to have to learn. There’re also ghosts of Revolutionary War-era soldiers reported to be seen in the Old Dutch Church Burial Grounds,” Harry added.
“Plenty to look into.” Phil nodded at Harry.
Harry nodded back. “To nutshell. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery has the Bronze Lady, the Lavender Lady, Washington Irvine’s grave, a Woman in Black, a shadow man, and a dog. The Old Dutch Church has the Hessian corpse, the Headless Horseman legend, and Revolutionary War-era soldiers.”
“And the house? Do we need an explanation?” Sunny grumped.
“Yes, because a lot was over-dramatised. I’ll start with the murders.
The second-floor master bedroom was where the parents were found.
The adjacent bedroom on the northeast was where the brothers were discovered.
And the other room on that level had the younger daughter’s body in it.
In the third-floor bedroom was the older daughter, also dead.
“A lot of speculation exists about why this happened. It was agreed that the killer had a mental breakdown and shot his family. But some, and I stress this is rumour only, reckon evil spirits or a demon influenced or possessed him. It’s never been confirmed.
What was proven was that he was a habitual liar and had psychological problems.
“The original haunting reported that the husband was woken at three-fifteen a.m. every morning. They recorded strange smells, green slime oozing from walls and keyholes, and frequent cold spots. Levitation supposedly happened, and a demonic voice was heard telling a priest to get out,” Harry stated.
“The flies attacking the priest?” Sunny asked.
“Didn’t happen. Nor did the cloven hoofprints, nor is it built on a Satanic cemetery. But to be honest, nobody ever saw levitation or slime oozing from the walls,” Harry said.
“So what happened was probably exaggerated?” Phil mused.
“Yes. However, since the family left, no further activity has been observed. A little over a year ago, the new residents reported events happening again. They moved six months ago and haven’t let anyone in,” Harry added.
“There’s an ‘and’ here,” I challenged.
“Yeah. Neighbours have stated screams and flashing lights. Blood has been seen on the interior walls, and a vile smell is emanating from it. The house is secure, and nobody’s been inside. There’s a lot of interest because of the history,” Harry finished.
“Thanks. Now, as base camp is smack in the middle of the two sites, those at the cemetery will return here each morning. But those investigating Amityville have permission to sleep there. You will literally be living there for the investigation. As the initial team going in, we’ll pick up enough groceries to last the week,” I said.
“Is it wise to stay there?” Jack asked.
“It would give us a rounded investigation,” I responded.
Sunny straightened. “Do you believe it’s unsafe?”
“The haunting was heavily dramatised. Make no mistake about that. However, there was severe paranormal activity there despite the exaggeration. I suspect the two priests would agree that it was evil,” Jack replied.
“Demonic?” Sunny sat up straighter.
I sighed. “Sunny, this isn’t the first demon we’ve come across.”
“No. And think about what the last one tried,” Sunny argued.
“We’ll have Michelle with us, and we’ll be heavily armed with equipment,” I said.
“What type?” Chey asked.
“Holy water, Bibles, blessed crosses, salt, oil, and incense,” I replied.
Chey nodded. “Ah, got ya.”
“Would they function if we aren’t even religious?” Celt inquired.
“Yes. If you have faith in the item’s power, it will work,” Michelle answered.
“I’m not devout, but I do believe in the cross,” Celt mused.
“Any questions?” I asked.
“Yeah, why are Chey and I split up?” Celt looked at Chey.
“You’re unhappy with that? I can swap. Callie has Sunny, and he’s capable of taking my place,” Connor offered.
“Callie? Does that work for you?” Celt turned to me.
“If Connor’s happy enough with it, then I’m okay. But Celt, if you interfere with something, I will boot you back to the other team,” I warned.
“What’s that mean?” he demanded.
“It means things happen, and you need to be prepared for the unexpected. Sunny has finally curbed his tendency to want to throw me over his shoulder and run. You can’t do that, Celt, it could affect the haunting. If you do, I’ll move you back to the other team,” I said.
Celt studied me to see how sincere I was. Where he was concerned, I was deadly serious. Celt slowly inclined his head, and with that, I wrapped up the meeting.
Celt
“Should I be worried?” I asked Sunny.
He turned to me and held my eyes. “Yes. Be watchful and alert. This shit isn’t a joke, no matter what you think.
I’ve experienced events I can’t explain and would never have believed.
Celt, whatever doubts you have, discard them.
Any preconceptions you have, get rid of them.
If there is a haunting at the house, we’ll find it. ”
“You’re serious,” I said after a few moments.
“Deadly. I’ve witnessed things nobody should have.
Evil exists, but it’s balanced by the innocence out there.
Demons, spirits, possessed items, I’ve experienced it all and more.
My wife stands in the middle of this, and she’s not out for glory.
Callie wants to prove there’s life after death and stop mistreatment happening,” Sunny stated.
“Abuse?” I asked incredulously. “How did you mistreat ghosts?”
“Yes. You haven’t seen the episode yet, but in the Asylum, were you told about it?”
“Yeah.”
“That is a fine case of abuse. People were allowed to investigate repeatedly, regardless of whether the spirits became upset. Look at the Penn; the historical verbal abuse heaped on the ghosts there to make them react was unbelievable. There’re too many investigators who shout and scream abusive language for likes and views, such as Tack Zoggins.
Ghosts have feelings; they may not be in a living body, but they still feel. That’s where poltergeists come from.
“Callie and the team treat them with respect and courtesy. They listen to what they’re told. Sure, they might challenge evil, but they don’t resort to threats and abusive language to do so. That only strengthens the entity they’re challenging. There are too many bad investigators.”
“Has Callie been harmed?”
“Yes. She’s been pushed, scratched, bitten, and slapped. Has she been seriously hurt? No. Could she be? Most definitely. But would you stop Chey singing because of her more fucked-up fans?”
“No, Chey would hand me my balls,” I admitted.
“Exactly. Imagine telling Callie she can’t do something she loves,” Sunny said.
“But this isn’t a physical danger we can fight,” I argued.
“Nope, and that’s an issue I really struggled with. How can I protect her when I can’t physically punch or shoot it?” Sunny chuckled.
“Brother, that has to be hard.”
“You’ve no idea. But I guarantee every precaution is taken during an investigation. This stuff is real, and it’s not easy. But for Callie, it’s worthwhile, and if she’s happy, then I’ll keep breaking my back to secure that happens,” Sunny said.
It made me think. Each Hellfire member with a woman would say the same. But Hellfire was fractured. There was no doubt about it. Sunny had hidden for years before returning and then leaving again for Callie. Sunny seemed happier away from Hellfire, but remained a huge part of it.
Shotgun’s secret had proven that the club was even more broken.
This generation was doing its best to fix what was wrong.
But the damage was too deeply ingrained in those of us who’d lived through Zeus.
If this was what Sunny needed to do to be happy, then I’d support my brother, no matter what.
And if keeping close meant I’d have to stay in a haunted house with him, then so be it. Bring it fuckin’ on!