Chapter 21
NOW
It was a nightmare come to fruition. Violet was trapped in a dungeon in the dark, and even though part of her could hear Jake talking to her, feel his arms coming around her, she couldn’t seem to stop screaming.
It was pitch-black, it was claustrophobic, and all she could think about were those poor women who had been accused of witchcraft. Had any of them been shackled here? Trapped in this dungeon, shouting for help, crying for their family, and knowing nobody would come?
It didn’t bear thinking about.
Violet was aware of a voice, a male voice, this time, coming through a speaker in the lift.
‘We’ll have you out in a few seconds,’ it said.
‘Power outage. We’ll get the doors opened and you can see a ladder just next to you.
If you can climb that, you’ll get into the gift shop.
If not, sit tight and we’ll get the emergency services in. ’
The very last thing Violet wanted to do was to set foot in that dungeon.
It was even more hellish with the lights out, and even though she knew there was a ladder just there, she would have to walk on that uneven floor, set foot in the place where so many people had been crowded into, that lice and plague and gaol-fever were rife and were killers…
‘It’s okay, Vi, they’ll get us out.’ Jake’s voice cut into her thoughts. ‘I’m sorry we’re in here – but it’s an experience, eh?’
He was trying to make light of it, but Violet just squeezed her eyes tighter and shook her head.
‘I can’t. I can’t get out and walk in there and climb up that.’
‘It’s only a couple of steps. Look. I’ll hold your hand. I’ll shove you up first.’ He was trying to make a joke of it, and under other circumstances, yes, she, Violet would laugh and say it was an adventure. But today, after what she had just read in that exhibition, it was, truly Hell.
There was a soft sliding noise as presumably the door from the lift opened, and a gust of cold, stagnant air rushed in, along with a stench of rot, disease and unwashed bodies. The scent of death.
Violet’s stomach churned and she prayed that she wouldn’t throw up.
‘Open your eyes, Vi. There’s a step outside into the dungeon. Then two or three more and we’ll be at the ladder.’ Jake was trying his best.
Violet forced her eyes open, and the thought of what might be lurking down there – the wild idea that ghost hands could well start clawing at her – made her sob, and gave her the impetus to get out of the lift and hug the wall to get to the ladder.
Once her hands were on the cold metal of the ladder, Violet put a foot on the bottom rung and felt a well-meaning shove from Jake, urging her upwards.
She scrambled as fast as she could to the top, where the admissions clerk took her hand and helped her out through a trapdoor.
Jake wasn’t far behind, and soon they were both standing in the gift shop in the dark.
‘I’m so sorry,’ said the clerk as people emerged from the entrance to the staircase.
‘That’s only ever happened once before. Normally, the emergency power kicks in, and the lift goes straight to the ground floor and the doors open.
Oh – there we go. See?’ The emergency lights flickered a couple of times, and the lift slowly rose through the floor and settled at the ground floor.
‘It’s fine,’ said Violet, although it was not fine, not really, but it wasn’t the clerk’s fault. ‘I just want to get out of here now.’
‘Don’t blame you. I’d offer you a coffee, but I’m not sure the kettle would work.’
Violet’s stomach churned. Coffee was the last thing she wanted. She just wanted out of there.
‘And oh, I don’t know if you’re still interested, but the witch who might have been here was called Jane Martin,’ said the clerk.
‘She was maybe held here before she was transported to the Newcastle trials. She’s a mystery, though.
Possibly the wife of a miller, possibly not.
Possibly from Catton or Haydon Bridge. Some say she was executed, and some say she was only accused and vanished without trace after the trials; if she was innocent, I guess she just wanted to disappear afterwards. ’
Violet knew that feeling. She would love to disappear right now. Love it. ‘Great. Thanks,’ she said mechanically. She flashed a smile at the clerk, which felt so fake, even she was astonished. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go.’
‘Don’t blame you. Here, let me sort you a refund.’
‘No, don’t be daft,’ said Jake. ‘It was an interactive experience. People would pay good money for that.’ He shook the clerk’s hand. ‘Thanks, mate.’ Then Violet felt Jake’s hand come around her waist and he escorted her gently outside.
Once she was safely in the street, Violet took a few big, deep breaths of cold, crisp air and blew out a sigh. ‘Nothing in this area is straightforward,’ she said. ‘Honestly.’
‘I know! Roman tombstones in an Abbey, a gaol made out of bricks from a Roman Fort – and a witch held there before her trial. This place is amazing. It’s like around every corner, there’s a new “old” thing to discover, and they’re all connected.’
Violet looked up at Jake. He was grinning. Literally grinning from ear to ear.
‘Oh, how true that is,’ she murmured.