Chapter Two.
Callie
“Cameras are perfect,” Harry called over the radio. “I’ve got a clear signal because of the booster. The earlier interference has cleared up.”
“Thanks,” I radioed in return.
“This place gives me the fuckin’ creeps,” Celt said, squeezing my shoulder. He offered a smile, and I grinned back at him.
“It’s atmospheric. Although you have to wonder how much is due to what we’ve seen, as in the movies.”
“True, honey. But bearing in mind the brief Harry gave us, stay close to Sunny and me,” Celt ordered.
“Okay, Celt,” I replied. I didn’t need to tell him that I wouldn’t let him impede me.
Celt wasn’t mistaken; the house was giving off some serious vibes.
I thought they might have worsened when Michelle arrived.
But either she hadn’t been recognised as a priest, or whatever lived here didn’t consider her a threat.
The house was wrong on that account. Michelle was a tremendous danger to it. It would soon learn that.
Solace entered, looking uncomfortable. “I’ve stowed my gear; I’ll guard during the day, and Sunny and Celt have agreed to take turns during the evening.”
“I don’t know if you’ll be able to sleep if activity happens,” I replied.
“That’s why I’m returning to base and will arrive first thing in the morning. We’re reluctant to hire more security, and it’s not often we’ll have two places to investigate. Sunny stated he’s alright with it,” Solace said, but she didn’t look happy.
“That’s fine, Solace. Sunny has the same training as you, and we know Celt can hold his own. We’ll be more vulnerable during the day when we’re asleep, so it makes sense to have you back then,” I agreed.
Solace nodded and headed out.
“Are you okay with not having security?” Celt asked.
“We’ve got you and Sunny. I meant what I said; we’re safe with you, Celt. Now, did you and Chey pick a room?” There were five to choose from. Sunny and I were staying in the main bedroom where the parents had died from being shot.
“Chey chose the third-floor bedroom. She claimed it called to her,” Celt admitted and pulled a face.
“I’ve picked where the two boys were killed,” Michelle said. “Harry said voices have been heard there.”
“That leaves the younger daughter’s room with nothing but cameras. That’s easy enough to handle,” I said.
Michelle shivered, and I glanced at her. “Are you picking up on anything?”
“I don’t know, but something feels malevolent in here,” she admitted.
“Okay, let’s start. Besides the five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and the half-bath, there are the living room, dining room, and foyer.
Plus, the kitchen, sunroom, boathouse slash garage, basement, and a boat slip.
Michelle, you join Celt and Chey and carry the camera, and I’ll go with Sunny, and he’ll be my cameraman,” I said.
“If you want, I can handle the camera,” Celt offered.
“We’ll take it in turns,” Michelle replied, and Celt nodded.
“Callie, I blessed the crosses again, and you have your bible. Don’t be afraid to use it.
There’s also holy water with the equipment; I suggest you and Sunny each carry a flask and some salt.
Use it for a protective circle if you need to. ”
“Will do. Where do you want to start?” I asked, giving them the option.
“I think the living room and sunroom,” Michelle said.
“Sunny and I will use the third-floor bedroom. We shouldn’t investigate our own bedrooms, or we’d never sleep in there,” I quipped.
Michelle laughed. “True. Okay, I guess we’re getting started.”
“Yes. Just be aware, I’ve put Rem-Pods in each room. If the downstairs goes off, they’re yours to check out. If it’s the second or third, Sunny and I will get them,” I stated.
Michelle
I entered the living room after grabbing some stuff from the foyer.
Callie said that would be the equipment storage, and that was fine by me.
I said a prayer for Celt, Chey, and me before grabbing an Ovilus.
I preferred them to the static noise machines called Spirit Boxes.
Celt was holding the night-vision camera and filming.
“So, what do we do?” Chey asked. She was carrying the EMF meter, and I was listening closely in case it spiked.
“We’ll start here and stay for a while unless a Rem-Pod activates. Do you understand what each piece of equipment does?” I replied.
Celt snorted. “Chey researched every item you own. She probably knows more than you guys.”
Chey shrugged but didn’t look abashed. Her EMF meter squealed, and we turned to check it out. “It says the temperature is dropping,” Chey said. “It’s five degrees colder than a few minutes ago.” Chey whipped out a pad and wrote it down, and the time.
Her professionalism impressed me.
“Okay, let’s grab a seat. We’ll take turns calling out.”
Chey and I received no reply, but when Celt asked if anyone was present, the EMF meter spiked, and the Rem-Pod screeched at the same time.
“Are you male? Touch the Rem-Pod again if you are,” I questioned, looking for a reply.
Nothing happened. Chey posed the question again, changing to female, but once more, no response.
“Celt, you ask,” I said with a frown. As soon as Celt repeated my question, the Rem-Pod squealed.
“Male,” the Ovilus intoned.
“Thank you,” I replied, triggering a reaction none of us expected.
All the equipment screamed.
“Shit!” Celt yelped, jumping to his feet.
“Settle down. That’s the spirit’s way of telling me to shut up. They only want to talk to you,” I surmised calmly.
Celt sent me a look that demanded to know why the fuck it was him, and I was barely hiding a smile. The spirits chose who they wanted—and it wasn’t Chey or me.
“Can you tell us your name?” Celt asked at my nod.
“No,” the Ovilus spat.
“Well, that was adamant.”
I heard a murmur and frowned. “Celt, can you rewind the footage?” He did so and pressed play. The murmur showed up, but I couldn’t quite make it out. “Turn the volume up.”
Celt hit replay, and we listened closely. “Shut up, bitch,” a male voice ordered.
“Pleasant,” Celt quipped, and I couldn’t disagree.
“Somehow I think he’s just getting started,” I replied.
“Celt, ask some questions,” Chey urged, and I nodded.
“Did you live here?” Celt asked as he began filming.
I heard a murmur again; whatever it was, it had answered.
“Were you a victim?” I inwardly winced. Celt had gone straight for the jugular. I didn’t hear anything.
“Why are you still here?” Celt continued with several more questions before I stopped him.
“Let’s play it back,” I said to Celt. There was a definite mutter, and I replayed it.
“Die.”
Celt looked stunned. “Did that say die?”
“Yeah. A usual threat.” It didn’t bother me.
I played the rest of the footage and frowned when there was no more.
Interesting. For the next few hours, I tried to get the spirit to re-engage, but nothing we did worked.
Still, I sensed it remained, watching, learning, and that worried the shit out of me.
Callie
“Priest.”
“Yes, we’ve a priest with us,” I replied to the question my Spirit Box threw out.
“Blasphemy.”
I glanced at Sunny and blinked. “Did that just say…?”
“Yeah. I wonder what it thinks is blasphemy,” Sunny drawled with a frown.
“Me too. Could it be because Michelle is here?”
“Possibly, or maybe because she’s a female priest?” Sunny suggested. Oh, that might make better sense. Women priests weren’t common until the late nineteen-nineties. If this spirit died before that, Michelle could easily be a shock.
“True. Are you saying a female priest is against church law?” I called out.
There was no reply. I repeated my question and was ignored again. It was frustrating.
“What happened in this room?” Sunny asked as he filmed.
“Murder.”
“That got a response,” I whispered.
“Do you know whose?” Sunny demanded.
“Girl.”
“Yes, a teenage girl was murdered here. Did you witness it?” Sunny said.
I nearly dropped the Spirit Box as a cackle came from it. “Caused it.”
I shook my head at Sunny. “No, I don’t believe that. There was no evidence of spirits affecting the killer. That was a fake rumour to boost sales of the book and movie.”
“Well, this ghost is playing into the plots,” Sunny stated.
“And my concern is why? What’s it planning to achieve?”
Sunny swapped a worried look with me. He shrugged because, like me, he didn’t have answers yet.
Jack
“You got us, Harry?” I asked over the radio.
“Loud and clear,” he replied.
“We’re heading to Washington Irving’s grave,” I informed him, and Harry offered an affirmative.
“Ironic we’re investigating his final resting place, and he wrote the legend of Sleepy Hollow,” Connor mused as we walked over.
“Can’t disagree. I know bright orbs have been seen around his headstone. Was there anything else seen?” Callum asked. He and Hugo had arrived just before we left and were happy to be joining us.
The radio cackled. “No, just those,” Harry said.
“Wow, he’s watching us closely,” I quipped. Harry blew a raspberry down the line, and we laughed.
As we approached the grave, I was stunned to see luminous lights floating around. Phil instantly whipped the camera toward them.
“What the hell?” Connor murmured as he squinted into the darkness.
As we got closer, a smile crossed my lips, which was mirrored by Connor moments later.
“Fireflies,” we chorused.
“That explains the orbs,” I said.
“Yes, for sure!” Connor agreed.
“We’ll watch for a bit and see if anything else happens.”
When we broke for food, all we’d filmed were fireflies, and our approaches had been met with silence.
Connor
“We’re heading towards the Bronze Lady statue,” I said to the others. Jack and I had agreed to check that out next.
“Okay,” Callum agreed.
“Could you tell us a detail about it?” Hugo asked.