Authors: Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick
Caraliza (28 page)
“
Who comforts her?” Evan was beginning to tremble again, no longer from fear.
Who comforts her?” Evan was beginning to tremble again, no longer from fear.
“
U.” You.
U.” You.
Evan calmed so he could stand, and he turned in the tiny space to take the girl into his arms and thank her for the warmth she gave. She was small, but strong and she whispered again that he was safe - if he did not climb to the attic.
He had no intention to go up there again. His business was down in the shop, along the windows of the east wall, to search and find why Papa would need work done there after the murders. Evan found her hair with his cheek and bent to her ear, and was not surprised she brought the aroma of dust, but he whispered softly and tried to brush her ear with his lips, “May I kiss you?”
She laughed so sweetly and playfully it broke his heart as she released her embrace and the warmth faded away.
“
Ik ben jouw geliefde niet!” I am not your love!
Ik ben jouw geliefde niet!” I am not your love!
The windows were each two feet from the floor, with great wood frame trim, and lace curtains to be pulled, but tied until needed. They were tall, nearly to the ceiling twelve feet above. Each opened in three parts, with lovely brass fittings to open and latch. Under each, simply the paneled walls to the trim at the floor. Enough space between for two men to stand - filled by a few beautiful cases, and the darkroom closet. There were five such great windows on the shop eastern wall. Evan loved them, but they seemed to disappear and only a great, dark brick wall could be seen. The affect was as beautiful as awful. The light was stolen from the windows by that wall, so they hid from sight. Evan did not know what he might be looking to find as he counted the windows again. He had been long enough in the building that a great shaft of light filled the room along the wall from the studio in the rear. It was getting late; Evan could not tarry. He began at the front.
There was nothing to find. He spent an hour looking along all the frames, testing the panels underneath, the walls between. He even moved the two cases Shelly replaced, as relatives restored them to the shop. He returned to the closet for a moment, and wondered what to do next, another hour and the sun would fade, he would not be in the shop as darkness fell, the thing in the attic might come down to see why he was there. Another pass at each window and he was undone, nothing found and the light fading. He would return the next day, and each day before Shelly was free to enter again, until he found what Papa ordered done.
His shivers returned as he left the gloom in the shop for the growing gloom in the garden, the open hole lying at the end of the steps from the porch. He had to look into the darkness, which had been filled with the dead until the day before. The contractor had not been able to return, Evan did not have a growing basement to look into, but the fresh emptied grave. The image of the skull in that hole filled his mind and he closed his eyes to stop it. The last step on the stair was but a few feet from the edge. Evan had difficulty moving down, moving away, and looking away. The body removed and the spirits were still there inside the building. He was no longer convinced they had recovered Yousep. The girl said nothing about Yousep finding rest; Evan thought it was all the dead required, a proper grave, proper respect. He could not understand what the dead here, might require, if their discovery were not enough to send them away.
The bottom step was won; he stood just at the edge of the hole and gathered his strength to move around it, to escape to the alley. He did not know; he was being watched. When the building felt his presence leave by the back way, the buildings around were hiding the last of the light in the studio windows, and the gloom quickly deepened to match the silence. But enough light remained to touch a shape in the window. A very large shape and it flashed laughter in its eyes and something worse on its lips.
“
Evan, Thank God. We can't find Shelly!” Sareta was standing with Shelly's father at the front of the shop as Evan emerged from the alley; they had just arrived.
Evan, Thank God. We can't find Shelly!” Sareta was standing with Shelly's father at the front of the shop as Evan emerged from the alley; they had just arrived.
“
Shit! You've lost her?” he cried and threw up his hands to his head.
Shit! You've lost her?” he cried and threw up his hands to his head.
“
She was home an hour ago, she's not there now.”
She was home an hour ago, she's not there now.”
“
Why didn't you call here?” Evan asked Richard.
Why didn't you call here?” Evan asked Richard.
“
She would not be here, she knows better!” Sareta yelled at him. “We do not know where your apartment is, we think she is there. Take us.”
She would not be here, she knows better!” Sareta yelled at him. “We do not know where your apartment is, we think she is there. Take us.”
“
You should have called anyway! I would have gone home to check.”
You should have called anyway! I would have gone home to check.”
“
You are not supposed to be here, don't be stupid. We could not tell anyone to call you here, we were on our way from Beth's to see the basement dug today and just learned.”
You are not supposed to be here, don't be stupid. We could not tell anyone to call you here, we were on our way from Beth's to see the basement dug today and just learned.”
“
It wasn’t dug. They never came. How do you know she isn't here! We can't leave until we’ve checked,” Evan reproached them.
It wasn’t dug. They never came. How do you know she isn't here! We can't leave until we’ve checked,” Evan reproached them.
“
You've been here all afternoon?” Shelly's father asked. “How could you not know if she is inside?”
You've been here all afternoon?” Shelly's father asked. “How could you not know if she is inside?”
“
There is only one place she could be, and why she would go there passed Evan, God only knows,” Sareta said to them both. “Go back around, Evan, and meet us at the stair.”
There is only one place she could be, and why she would go there passed Evan, God only knows,” Sareta said to them both. “Go back around, Evan, and meet us at the stair.”
Evan rushed to the rear again, stumbling up the porch steps, fumbled the key and made a mess of getting in. But happily, the back of the building was empty. He turned on every light in the place as he came through and found Sareta and her son in the middle of the store in front. They had not been inside that space the whole time Shelly worked, and they were struck with amazement when the lights came up. He could also tell they were frightened; they could have been up the stairs long before he made his bumbling way in the back, but they were trembling and slow. Sareta repeated what she told him the day before, she could feel the spirits in every corner of the place and her legs failed her will. Evan smiled a very weak smile and rushed up the stair before he could fright himself, they heard the door thrown and his gasp upon entering the room. The silence after was terrible to hear.
“
What have we done? He should not have gone up there!” Sareta cried as she rushed to the bottom steps.
What have we done? He should not have gone up there!” Sareta cried as she rushed to the bottom steps.
“
It’s all right. It’s empty up here. Stuffy, like before, but empty,” Evan called down.
It’s all right. It’s empty up here. Stuffy, like before, but empty,” Evan called down.
“
God, child,
mein kind!
Get down here now before I die and haunt you myself!”
God, child,
mein kind!
Get down here now before I die and haunt you myself!”
She was more distressed than she had been in years, and her son noticed the strain it caused her. Sareta had been very young, but the events in the attic those years ago were terribly fresh in her mind, Shelly restored the shop to perfection. Richard had only seen it like this in photographs, and he half expected to see the crazy old man, Menashe himself walk out of the back studio. Sareta’s sudden cry brought his mind back to the moment, but did not stir his reflexes to be of any help. Evan was head over heels coming down the stairs and his cries were almost as loud as the laughter, which remained just inside the door of that room.
“
Holy shit, who’s up there?” Richard yelled and bolted to the stair where Evan was barely controlling his hideous fall.
Holy shit, who’s up there?” Richard yelled and bolted to the stair where Evan was barely controlling his hideous fall.
“
Richard! Do not move a step closer!” His mother hissed and flailed her arm in front of him. Evan settled, very dazed into a crumpled, but upright position on the bottom three steps. His eyes were swimming again. Sareta’s eyes were fixed at the top of the stair and she inched as close to Evan as she could without looking at him. Her color was gone, and she moaned in fear before she tried to speak to Evan in a whisper.
Richard! Do not move a step closer!” His mother hissed and flailed her arm in front of him. Evan settled, very dazed into a crumpled, but upright position on the bottom three steps. His eyes were swimming again. Sareta’s eyes were fixed at the top of the stair and she inched as close to Evan as she could without looking at him. Her color was gone, and she moaned in fear before she tried to speak to Evan in a whisper.
“
Do not move Evan. Do not make a sound. Richard, Dear God, it’s at the top of the stair watching him! Please do not move Evan…”
Do not move Evan. Do not make a sound. Richard, Dear God, it’s at the top of the stair watching him! Please do not move Evan…”
She did not have to tell him again. Evan fainted.
“
Richard, please walk slowly to the back porch and throw something in the grave.”
Richard, please walk slowly to the back porch and throw something in the grave.”
“
Grave?” Richard Reisman was stunned at what she asked of him.
Grave?” Richard Reisman was stunned at what she asked of him.
“
Do not say another word, get something heavy and throw it into the hole at the bottom of the back steps. Go now, Son, or Evan will die right in front of us. It wants to come down,” she moaned and was so unsteady her son almost stayed with her, but she pleaded. “Go now! Please.” He hurried to the doorway and disappeared into the studio. Sareta held her breath to hear the back door open, and as it did, the thing at the top of the stair turned to look that direction, and slid back into the storeroom. The door silently closed, so slowly Sareta thought she would faint before she could draw breath again. A calm voice in her ear raised a chill and the hairs on her skin, though it whispered softly.
Do not say another word, get something heavy and throw it into the hole at the bottom of the back steps. Go now, Son, or Evan will die right in front of us. It wants to come down,” she moaned and was so unsteady her son almost stayed with her, but she pleaded. “Go now! Please.” He hurried to the doorway and disappeared into the studio. Sareta held her breath to hear the back door open, and as it did, the thing at the top of the stair turned to look that direction, and slid back into the storeroom. The door silently closed, so slowly Sareta thought she would faint before she could draw breath again. A calm voice in her ear raised a chill and the hairs on her skin, though it whispered softly.
“
That one will not return. He is safe.”
That one will not return. He is safe.”
Evan stirred as the whisper faded. Sareta moved to take his hand, but did not take her eyes from the door above them. She heard the laughter again, very faintly.
Evan was laid on the divan in the studio. Richard was furious at what he found in the back, understanding when he saw it, why it had been called a grave. His mother tried to calm him and make him understand it was necessary; Yousep’s spirit might be released if they returned him to his family.
“
This is insane, Mother. We should burn this place to the ground tonight. I can’t believe I’m even still here! How many times are we going to let this young man to be battered before we stop the whole damned thing?”
This is insane, Mother. We should burn this place to the ground tonight. I can’t believe I’m even still here! How many times are we going to let this young man to be battered before we stop the whole damned thing?”
Sareta stood up against her son so quickly he was nearly thrown backward. Her tone spoke more authority than her words, and Evan was pretty sure she could have knocked her son out with a single punch.
“
We will allow him to help us as long as he likes!” She pointed in Richard’s face but squeezing Evan’s hand. “This place needs peace, not flames. If we burn this place down, where do you think the spirits will go Richard? They haunt the Reismans, not the Bryants, Richard!”
We will allow him to help us as long as he likes!” She pointed in Richard’s face but squeezing Evan’s hand. “This place needs peace, not flames. If we burn this place down, where do you think the spirits will go Richard? They haunt the Reismans, not the Bryants, Richard!”
“
Grandma, that is not Yousep up there. It’s something else and I can’t figure out whom. I couldn’t feel it this time until it touched me. I hope it’s not Papa, you will never be rid of him if it’s Menashe Reisman,” Evan said as he rubbed his eyes gently. “Shelly has spoken to Yousep and probably the girl. I’m convinced of it. She doesn’t always speak English, have you noticed?”
Grandma, that is not Yousep up there. It’s something else and I can’t figure out whom. I couldn’t feel it this time until it touched me. I hope it’s not Papa, you will never be rid of him if it’s Menashe Reisman,” Evan said as he rubbed his eyes gently. “Shelly has spoken to Yousep and probably the girl. I’m convinced of it. She doesn’t always speak English, have you noticed?”
“
The boy must be the one who spoke to me,” Sareta said as she sat carefully next to Evan. “He told me you were safe when it went back to the room.”
The boy must be the one who spoke to me,” Sareta said as she sat carefully next to Evan. “He told me you were safe when it went back to the room.”
Her son was becoming more agitated again. The conversation was very distressing to him. His entire life those were only spooky stories, and he’d never believed them.
“
I’ve spoken to the girl too, Sareta. She is so gentle. Why she and Yousep are still here, we can’t understand yet. But they won’t harm us; they are still human enough to care about us.”
I’ve spoken to the girl too, Sareta. She is so gentle. Why she and Yousep are still here, we can’t understand yet. But they won’t harm us; they are still human enough to care about us.”
“
Then what is the brute at the top of the stair?” Sareta pleaded with him. “Please tell me it cannot be Papa!”
Then what is the brute at the top of the stair?” Sareta pleaded with him. “Please tell me it cannot be Papa!”
“
I don’t know,” Evan lied. “The girl doesn’t seem to fear it, but she told me to stay out of that room. Whatever it is, couldn’t pull me in, so it flung me back down. If that’s not Papa, I can only imagine who it is, and they are still murderous!”
I don’t know,” Evan lied. “The girl doesn’t seem to fear it, but she told me to stay out of that room. Whatever it is, couldn’t pull me in, so it flung me back down. If that’s not Papa, I can only imagine who it is, and they are still murderous!”
“
Is that Yousep’s murderer up there? Dear God!” Sareta was looking at the ceiling above them as if to see the thing in the attic room. She shuddered at the thought of what she saw on the stair.
Is that Yousep’s murderer up there? Dear God!” Sareta was looking at the ceiling above them as if to see the thing in the attic room. She shuddered at the thought of what she saw on the stair.
“
But why would it be here? Why would such a fiend come back to this place, where it killed two children? To torment them after their deaths? They have to hide from this thing forever?” Evan hated those words when he said them; they were foul in his heart. Yousep and his girl, trapped with that thing, with still no escape? And Shelly had to feel all of that in her poor heart?
But why would it be here? Why would such a fiend come back to this place, where it killed two children? To torment them after their deaths? They have to hide from this thing forever?” Evan hated those words when he said them; they were foul in his heart. Yousep and his girl, trapped with that thing, with still no escape? And Shelly had to feel all of that in her poor heart?
Richard was listening to his mother and Evan discuss the very real haunting he just witnessed and they were calmly analyzing the actions of people who were dead more years than he had been alive. He wanted out of the building, and it was becoming more urgent than he could control.
“
Do either of you remember we are supposed to be trying to locate Shelly?” he blurted at them finally. His mother looked surprised at herself, and asked if Evan felt well enough to rush out to his home. He nodded, he was still in pain from the fall, but he only wanted to find Shelly and have the event ended for the night. He refused the urge to tell Sareta and Richard the spirit in the attic had been the one that attacked him the last time he held Shelly in his arms. Finding her would be like walking back into that room.
Do either of you remember we are supposed to be trying to locate Shelly?” he blurted at them finally. His mother looked surprised at herself, and asked if Evan felt well enough to rush out to his home. He nodded, he was still in pain from the fall, but he only wanted to find Shelly and have the event ended for the night. He refused the urge to tell Sareta and Richard the spirit in the attic had been the one that attacked him the last time he held Shelly in his arms. Finding her would be like walking back into that room.
Evan was in no fit state to drive, again. He told Richard how to get to his apartment and then lay down in the back seat while they hurried to see if Shelly was indeed there. Sareta was hoping Shelly was there. Only there could she flee without permission, and be forgiven. The possibility spirits might still haunt her family, after the building was gone, to Sareta - it was unthinkable. There was some other way, she knew there must be, and she just prayed desperately it would not cost another life to find that peace. They must put the spirits and that damned building to rest before they cast the horrors into the wind to follow them all. Shelly must be at Evan’s, it was the only protection she might have.
At least his lights were on. He pleaded they let him go up himself to see her, but Richard would not hear of it. Evan could barely sit up in the car, and he had three flights to climb. They all three made their way up to Evan’s door, and Shelly burst out, to scare them out of their wits entirely. She hurt Evan horribly in her embrace, and she could not be pried loose to let him inside. She was so hasty to beg him to forgive and hug her that she had no idea he was injured again. Sareta and Richard both pulled the two into the apartment and carried Evan near the couch to sit him down.
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