December 18th
The journey was quiet except for the light rain rain shower beating softly against the roof, I kept my eyes ahead, Emile did the same, his breathing was irregular and nerves on end.
It was not long before the house came into view, the exterior looked harsher than I remembered and the windows were darken except for one light down stairs.
Approaching the front door, I noticed there was a sweet smell coming from the kitchen and even Emile seemed surprised by the warmth the haunted house now emitted. Before the door could close behind me I heard her voice.
“What do we have here?”, she said.
Lucie appeared behind us, taking care to close and lock the front door. She moved closer to Emile with a slight smile on her face. Lucie and Emile had met in passing before, though he had never known she was my wife.
“Your light”, she said leaning closer to Emile and moving a strand of his hair, “It is very very dull.”
Emile stepped away from her, not quite believing what he was seeing or hearing.
“There is someone else here”, I couldn’t explain I just felt it.
“As a matter of fact there is .”, she lead Emile and I into the kitchen
The boy, I recalled from the road was sitting in the kitchen. His red and white cap was on the table and his clothes had been dried. The boy sat hunched over the table writing, his hand smudging the wet ink
“His light is very bright”, she continued to taunt Emile, "very very bright"
“Lucie”, I pulled her aside and away from our visitors, “What are you doing”
“This is Joshua and he needs our help”, she said with a smile, “ He is like us you know. Seen what we’ve seen. . . been where we've been. His family is long since gone. I thought you of all people would understand. Besides won’t it be nice that the house won’t be quiet any longer. I want him to stay”
“Lucille, surely someone will miss him”
“Well then”, she continued to circle me, “If I can’t have guest neither can you. . . how many pieces do you suppose Emile can be turned into to ?”
She exclaimed the last part loud enough for Emile himself to hear.
“Enough, Lucie. Joshua may. . . for now”
“. . .and why exactly is Mr. Emile here anyway ?”
“I can assure you Lucie, that he is only here for our benefit.”
She smiled
The game was nearly over, Emile’s queen was very close to being captured still I hesitated making the move.
“Addison”, he said, “I’m concerned you truly don’t see what you’re doing.”
Through the open door I could see Lucie hovering over Joshua. She had been a teacher for nearly 30 years and it seemed almost natural for her care for child, there was however something a bit off about her behavior.
“May I ask you something”, Emile said without pause, “when you look at her who do you see ?”
I looked up from the board, our eyes met briefly across the hall and I was lost for an answer.
“I used to be quite jealous of your Fierro”, Emile continued, “you had always appeared sure of at least one thing and that was the love you felt for Lucie”
“I will tell you Emile you would not have recognized me when I was married to Lucie, I was utterly content.
I released the latch on my pocket watch, gently pressing the face till it flipped revealing the only remnant of our life together.
In the photo, Lucie’s eyes were soft, her lips relaxed into a smile, I’d hardly recognized myself gazing down at her perhaps just seconds from kissing her.
“I am sure of nothing anymore, Emile”, I decided
We had reached the end game and Emile’s defeat appeared inevitable.
“Have you come up with any reasonable plans, Emile”
“Well”, he said with uncertainty, “I’d considered a rather crude method”
“Go on”
“It’s a bit rash but perhaps”, He leaned into whisper, “an exorcism?”
“Do you truly believe such things work?”
“Well, I went 35 years assuming ghost didn’t exist.”
My thoughts went to Rev. Allen. He was a spiritual man and a bit of an enigma himself and would certainly keep the preceding secretive.
“ . . .and if it works ?”, Emile had been speaking, “You’ll let Clara go ?”
“Not just yet, I need Roger to confess. To admit what he has done.”
“And how will you do that ?”
“Another fake letter from Ms. DeLune ; pleaing with her grandfather to confess his past crimes for her sake. Which he will eventually."
“And then you let her go?”
Emile suddenly became very persistent.
“Then we leave. . . together.”
“Do you think she will choose to leave her family for you ?”
“For a while.”, I said honselty
Emile shook his head as if he understood something I did not. I refused to believe I had missed anything but the thought was now in my mind and never left.
Very late in the night, or rather very early in the day. I had once again been unable to sleep through the night and had instead taken to wandering aimlessly around my house. Everything was in it’s usual place. Not a single vase, painting or book out of place.
The halls were dark and quiet without the hum of electricity, just a few kerosene lamps to light the way.
In the kitchen on the table I found the list that Joshua had written through the smugged ink. I could make out a list, a list of things he remembered before he died.
Dad bought a new car
The dodgers won the world series against the Yankees
Dad voted for Johnson
I shouldn’t have been playing ball in the street
“Sir . . . is there something wrong?”
I hadn’t even heard the boy come in. He looked to be around 11 or twelve but appeared relatively small for his age. He did however resemble a much younger Martin DeLune which was equally troubling.
“Tell me Joshua, has Lucie said something specific she wants from you.?”
“I don’t know”, he said, “Miss. Lucie seems really nice though. I mean, my foster home was okay and everything but I just don’t. . .belong. I think Miss. Lucie understands she’s actually pretty swell. I can see why you married her.”
Aside from the most pressing matter Joshua was relatively normal, there was nothing ordinary or extraordinary about him. Perhaps she did want the company or maybe she was up to something and if so did I have a right to care ?
He sat at the table going over his list trying to think of more things to write.
Although it was nearing sunrise it looked as if it were going to be another bleak bitter winter morning, but it was one of the most peaceful.
Everything had quite literally fallen to pieces.
Tears stung at the edge of my eyes but I somehow kept myself together. I kept seeing her beautiful face over and over again for what I believed to be the last time.
Emile watched by the front door, we were both listening to the thrum of Joshua pounding against the guest room but I knew the locks wouldn’t give.
“What have you done with her”, the boy’s voice carried downstairs.
Emile came next to me, leaning down he grabbed the other end of the sheet as it and its content were dragged closer to the front door. Emile quietly backed into a broken chair twisting the sheet and causing the malformed body to roll across the floor.
Emile fell to his knees sick with fear and guilt; it was far from the time to be weak.
What a terrible terrible mess we had made.
December 22.
I checked the calendar twice
I found it difficult to believe it was only a few days before Christmas. The spirit, of the holiday that is, had not found itself to this poor house.
Emile and I had enacted very quickly and carefully to attempt to exorcise Lucie from Her Grandaughter.I had driven miles across the state to hand deliver a letter to Reverend Levi Allen asking his assistance.
Rev. Allen replied quickly, citing a certain . . . coldness he felt in the girl when he had visited my home previously. He claimed there was a misplaced evil in her, though I hesitated to agree.
As I relayed the news to Emile he once again seemed tense. I had selfishly not realized that while I had entangled Emile into my weave I was keeping him away from those who cared for him.
If Lucie knew what we were planning she never let on.
My first concern had been Joshua, in the few days he had been present he had become rather attached to Lucie. She seemed to be teaching him French and spent long hours learning as much about him as she could
I found Joshua alone in one of the rooms fiddling with a radio, there was a bit of static and apparently Western New York was preparing for a blizzard. He paid no attention to me and I closed the door, no bothering to lock him in.
Downstairs Emile had begun to pace, he realized that getting rid of Lucie would be his way home. I had in my letter advised Rev. Allen to drive up to the tree line and walk the rest of the way.
A little after nine his small dark figure began to emerge from the woods. There was a silent glance between Emile and I . I left him and began to look for Lucille.
Lucie had occupied herself with putting up extravagant paintings, the speakers were turned on and smooth jazz filled the hallway. Lucie hummed along slightly off key
“Lucille, I want you to do something for me ?”
“What is it, Sweetheart”, she appeared happy believing she could so something to please me
I took her hand leading her down the hall farther away from the gaudy paintings and towards my bedroom.
Her hair lay perfectly straight and was nearly as dark as her eyes, even so she appeared very young of course that was more than likely because she was.
“I miss waking up to you”, I told her, “I miss watching you sleep.”
“Really ?”
“When I look at you Lucie, I hardly see her. It’s almost uncanny how similar you two are.”
I motioned for her to lay down and she did and quietly closed her eyes, she remain completely still content to think she was making me happy.
“Please Lucie”, I said very close to her, my lips almost touching hers, “Stay just like that.”
Lucie didn’t move. I began to touch her eyes, cheeks and lips as to keep her distracted.
She did not even sense as Emile and Rev. Allen moved by the doorway. The reverend though he was very still he appeared to be in deep concentration. The reverend began to whisper a long devotional litany under his breath, His eyes were dark and serious, he was an older man very frail but still a few years younger than myself.
Emile stood close by the door frame his hands visibly shaking.
I held my breath as Rev. Allen reached out to touch her, the moment his hand made contact her skin her eyes fluttered open revealing just the whites of her eyes framed by light red veins.
Rev. Allen attempted to pull away, her long nails digging into his wrist drawing blood and tearing his skin. Still he kept speaking, his words only inciting her anger.
Then it started like a hum, I heard the foundation began to creak before the house began to shake beneath me.
The unsteady ground became volatile, in the hall pictures and mirrors were falling, the ceiling began to crumble and dust everything beneath it. furniture was being thrown around the room, leaving nothing in it's place Emile held firm to the door way before turning into the hall
"Enough”, I warned him I feared the entire house might fall.
Still he continued, her grip on him becoming tighter.
I pulled the reverend away from her grasp, both of us falling to the floor, which continued to move. After a few moments the shaking stopped.
Emile had returned with Joshua in tow. Ms. DeLune still lay perfectly still, the whites of her eyes still showing. She was very cold now, from the air coming through the cracked window.
“Is she—“, Emile started
“No ! NO !”, Joshua struggled out of Emile’s grasp to get closer but I wouldn’t let him.
He was srtong but I managed to drag him out of the room, I needed him out the way. As I took him down the hall I noticed something was different.
In the middle of the hallway from the now cracked ceiling there appeared a little doorway, an attic I hadn’t noticed. With probably more forced than needed I locked the boy into one of the bedrooms.
Emile and I stood at either ends of the hall, neither of us moved when something creaked.
Looking up the attic door began to slowly open on it’s own. I was paralyzed unable to move as something made it’s way down.
My breathing was so loud
What was it ?
A pale lifeless hand followed by an arm, another hand and arm, the rest of the torso began to descend and I could make out the back of a woman. The figure somehow able to descend upside down began to turn.
It was Lucie
Her face, her body, it was her just as I’d last seen her so many years ago
She descended from the attic her hands touching the ground first before she fell and picked herself up and began to walking gracefully towards me.
“Now”, her/it’s voice was a hushed whisper, “now you can really see me.”
I fell to my knees my eyes not shut anticipating her as she came closer, I opened my eyes to come face to face with her.
And she was gone.
The attic door was still open. Emile appeared comatose on the floor, refusing any help.
I found Ms. DeLune still in my room which was now destroyed as was much of the house.
Her heart was still beating but otherwise she appeared lifeless an empty shell.
The reverend however had not been as fortunate and it appeared it his spiritual warfare he had lost. A perfect red stain had formed on him as if something had clawed at him till death over took him.
I wrapped him in a dark sheet and proceeded to dispose of him, how would I ever explain this?
I removed his Bible still clinched I his hand and covered his face still filled with fear.
+1+
I lead Emile to the car, he appeared calm keeping his usual good nature at bay. Truthfully, I was to the point of terrifying even myself.The journey was quiet except for the light rain rain shower beating softly against the roof, I kept my eyes ahead, Emile did the same, his breathing was irregular and nerves on end.
It was not long before the house came into view, the exterior looked harsher than I remembered and the windows were darken except for one light down stairs.
Approaching the front door, I noticed there was a sweet smell coming from the kitchen and even Emile seemed surprised by the warmth the haunted house now emitted. Before the door could close behind me I heard her voice.
“What do we have here?”, she said.
Lucie appeared behind us, taking care to close and lock the front door. She moved closer to Emile with a slight smile on her face. Lucie and Emile had met in passing before, though he had never known she was my wife.
“Your light”, she said leaning closer to Emile and moving a strand of his hair, “It is very very dull.”
Emile stepped away from her, not quite believing what he was seeing or hearing.
“There is someone else here”, I couldn’t explain I just felt it.
“As a matter of fact there is .”, she lead Emile and I into the kitchen
The boy, I recalled from the road was sitting in the kitchen. His red and white cap was on the table and his clothes had been dried. The boy sat hunched over the table writing, his hand smudging the wet ink
“His light is very bright”, she continued to taunt Emile, "very very bright"
“Lucie”, I pulled her aside and away from our visitors, “What are you doing”
“This is Joshua and he needs our help”, she said with a smile, “ He is like us you know. Seen what we’ve seen. . . been where we've been. His family is long since gone. I thought you of all people would understand. Besides won’t it be nice that the house won’t be quiet any longer. I want him to stay”
“Lucille, surely someone will miss him”
“Well then”, she continued to circle me, “If I can’t have guest neither can you. . . how many pieces do you suppose Emile can be turned into to ?”
She exclaimed the last part loud enough for Emile himself to hear.
“Enough, Lucie. Joshua may. . . for now”
“. . .and why exactly is Mr. Emile here anyway ?”
“I can assure you Lucie, that he is only here for our benefit.”
She smiled
+++
The game was nearly over, Emile’s queen was very close to being captured still I hesitated making the move.
“Addison”, he said, “I’m concerned you truly don’t see what you’re doing.”
Through the open door I could see Lucie hovering over Joshua. She had been a teacher for nearly 30 years and it seemed almost natural for her care for child, there was however something a bit off about her behavior.
“May I ask you something”, Emile said without pause, “when you look at her who do you see ?”
I looked up from the board, our eyes met briefly across the hall and I was lost for an answer.
“I used to be quite jealous of your Fierro”, Emile continued, “you had always appeared sure of at least one thing and that was the love you felt for Lucie”
“I will tell you Emile you would not have recognized me when I was married to Lucie, I was utterly content.
I released the latch on my pocket watch, gently pressing the face till it flipped revealing the only remnant of our life together.
In the photo, Lucie’s eyes were soft, her lips relaxed into a smile, I’d hardly recognized myself gazing down at her perhaps just seconds from kissing her.
“I am sure of nothing anymore, Emile”, I decided
We had reached the end game and Emile’s defeat appeared inevitable.
“Have you come up with any reasonable plans, Emile”
“Well”, he said with uncertainty, “I’d considered a rather crude method”
“Go on”
“It’s a bit rash but perhaps”, He leaned into whisper, “an exorcism?”
“Do you truly believe such things work?”
“Well, I went 35 years assuming ghost didn’t exist.”
My thoughts went to Rev. Allen. He was a spiritual man and a bit of an enigma himself and would certainly keep the preceding secretive.
“ . . .and if it works ?”, Emile had been speaking, “You’ll let Clara go ?”
“Not just yet, I need Roger to confess. To admit what he has done.”
“And how will you do that ?”
“Another fake letter from Ms. DeLune ; pleaing with her grandfather to confess his past crimes for her sake. Which he will eventually."
“And then you let her go?”
Emile suddenly became very persistent.
“Then we leave. . . together.”
“Do you think she will choose to leave her family for you ?”
“For a while.”, I said honselty
Emile shook his head as if he understood something I did not. I refused to believe I had missed anything but the thought was now in my mind and never left.
+++
Very late in the night, or rather very early in the day. I had once again been unable to sleep through the night and had instead taken to wandering aimlessly around my house. Everything was in it’s usual place. Not a single vase, painting or book out of place.
The halls were dark and quiet without the hum of electricity, just a few kerosene lamps to light the way.
In the kitchen on the table I found the list that Joshua had written through the smugged ink. I could make out a list, a list of things he remembered before he died.
Dad bought a new car
The dodgers won the world series against the Yankees
Dad voted for Johnson
I shouldn’t have been playing ball in the street
“Sir . . . is there something wrong?”
I hadn’t even heard the boy come in. He looked to be around 11 or twelve but appeared relatively small for his age. He did however resemble a much younger Martin DeLune which was equally troubling.
“Tell me Joshua, has Lucie said something specific she wants from you.?”
“I don’t know”, he said, “Miss. Lucie seems really nice though. I mean, my foster home was okay and everything but I just don’t. . .belong. I think Miss. Lucie understands she’s actually pretty swell. I can see why you married her.”
Aside from the most pressing matter Joshua was relatively normal, there was nothing ordinary or extraordinary about him. Perhaps she did want the company or maybe she was up to something and if so did I have a right to care ?
He sat at the table going over his list trying to think of more things to write.
Although it was nearing sunrise it looked as if it were going to be another bleak bitter winter morning, but it was one of the most peaceful.
+2+
Everything had quite literally fallen to pieces.
Tears stung at the edge of my eyes but I somehow kept myself together. I kept seeing her beautiful face over and over again for what I believed to be the last time.
Emile watched by the front door, we were both listening to the thrum of Joshua pounding against the guest room but I knew the locks wouldn’t give.
“What have you done with her”, the boy’s voice carried downstairs.
Emile came next to me, leaning down he grabbed the other end of the sheet as it and its content were dragged closer to the front door. Emile quietly backed into a broken chair twisting the sheet and causing the malformed body to roll across the floor.
Emile fell to his knees sick with fear and guilt; it was far from the time to be weak.
What a terrible terrible mess we had made.
---
December 22.
I checked the calendar twice
I found it difficult to believe it was only a few days before Christmas. The spirit, of the holiday that is, had not found itself to this poor house.
Emile and I had enacted very quickly and carefully to attempt to exorcise Lucie from Her Grandaughter.I had driven miles across the state to hand deliver a letter to Reverend Levi Allen asking his assistance.
Rev. Allen replied quickly, citing a certain . . . coldness he felt in the girl when he had visited my home previously. He claimed there was a misplaced evil in her, though I hesitated to agree.
As I relayed the news to Emile he once again seemed tense. I had selfishly not realized that while I had entangled Emile into my weave I was keeping him away from those who cared for him.
If Lucie knew what we were planning she never let on.
My first concern had been Joshua, in the few days he had been present he had become rather attached to Lucie. She seemed to be teaching him French and spent long hours learning as much about him as she could
I found Joshua alone in one of the rooms fiddling with a radio, there was a bit of static and apparently Western New York was preparing for a blizzard. He paid no attention to me and I closed the door, no bothering to lock him in.
Downstairs Emile had begun to pace, he realized that getting rid of Lucie would be his way home. I had in my letter advised Rev. Allen to drive up to the tree line and walk the rest of the way.
A little after nine his small dark figure began to emerge from the woods. There was a silent glance between Emile and I . I left him and began to look for Lucille.
Lucie had occupied herself with putting up extravagant paintings, the speakers were turned on and smooth jazz filled the hallway. Lucie hummed along slightly off key
“Lucille, I want you to do something for me ?”
“What is it, Sweetheart”, she appeared happy believing she could so something to please me
I took her hand leading her down the hall farther away from the gaudy paintings and towards my bedroom.
Her hair lay perfectly straight and was nearly as dark as her eyes, even so she appeared very young of course that was more than likely because she was.
“I miss waking up to you”, I told her, “I miss watching you sleep.”
“Really ?”
“When I look at you Lucie, I hardly see her. It’s almost uncanny how similar you two are.”
I motioned for her to lay down and she did and quietly closed her eyes, she remain completely still content to think she was making me happy.
“Please Lucie”, I said very close to her, my lips almost touching hers, “Stay just like that.”
Lucie didn’t move. I began to touch her eyes, cheeks and lips as to keep her distracted.
She did not even sense as Emile and Rev. Allen moved by the doorway. The reverend though he was very still he appeared to be in deep concentration. The reverend began to whisper a long devotional litany under his breath, His eyes were dark and serious, he was an older man very frail but still a few years younger than myself.
Emile stood close by the door frame his hands visibly shaking.
I held my breath as Rev. Allen reached out to touch her, the moment his hand made contact her skin her eyes fluttered open revealing just the whites of her eyes framed by light red veins.
Rev. Allen attempted to pull away, her long nails digging into his wrist drawing blood and tearing his skin. Still he kept speaking, his words only inciting her anger.
Then it started like a hum, I heard the foundation began to creak before the house began to shake beneath me.
The unsteady ground became volatile, in the hall pictures and mirrors were falling, the ceiling began to crumble and dust everything beneath it. furniture was being thrown around the room, leaving nothing in it's place Emile held firm to the door way before turning into the hall
"Enough”, I warned him I feared the entire house might fall.
Still he continued, her grip on him becoming tighter.
I pulled the reverend away from her grasp, both of us falling to the floor, which continued to move. After a few moments the shaking stopped.
Emile had returned with Joshua in tow. Ms. DeLune still lay perfectly still, the whites of her eyes still showing. She was very cold now, from the air coming through the cracked window.
“Is she—“, Emile started
“No ! NO !”, Joshua struggled out of Emile’s grasp to get closer but I wouldn’t let him.
He was srtong but I managed to drag him out of the room, I needed him out the way. As I took him down the hall I noticed something was different.
In the middle of the hallway from the now cracked ceiling there appeared a little doorway, an attic I hadn’t noticed. With probably more forced than needed I locked the boy into one of the bedrooms.
Emile and I stood at either ends of the hall, neither of us moved when something creaked.
Looking up the attic door began to slowly open on it’s own. I was paralyzed unable to move as something made it’s way down.
My breathing was so loud
What was it ?
A pale lifeless hand followed by an arm, another hand and arm, the rest of the torso began to descend and I could make out the back of a woman. The figure somehow able to descend upside down began to turn.
It was Lucie
Her face, her body, it was her just as I’d last seen her so many years ago
She descended from the attic her hands touching the ground first before she fell and picked herself up and began to walking gracefully towards me.
“Now”, her/it’s voice was a hushed whisper, “now you can really see me.”
I fell to my knees my eyes not shut anticipating her as she came closer, I opened my eyes to come face to face with her.
And she was gone.
The attic door was still open. Emile appeared comatose on the floor, refusing any help.
I found Ms. DeLune still in my room which was now destroyed as was much of the house.
Her heart was still beating but otherwise she appeared lifeless an empty shell.
The reverend however had not been as fortunate and it appeared it his spiritual warfare he had lost. A perfect red stain had formed on him as if something had clawed at him till death over took him.
I wrapped him in a dark sheet and proceeded to dispose of him, how would I ever explain this?
I removed his Bible still clinched I his hand and covered his face still filled with fear.