Ghosts of Halloweens Past — Part 2
By: Karalyn Spencer
Tags: Paranormal, Halloween, Short Story, Fiction, Amwriting

It took a lot of convincing Nick to return to the cemetery. Rose couldn’t blame him, really. He did have quite a terrifying experience. But since Rose could see and speak to the other spirits, they didn’t have much choice. They weren’t sure how much time they had before the dark zone spread further. If it had anything to do with the alignment of the planets around Samhain and a full moon, they didn’t have much time at all. At least they were safe from the dark things in the daylight.

Rose took control of Nick’s body as they entered through the iron gates of the graveyard. It was quiet during the day. While the living got creeped out in the dark, the silence in the daytime gave the place an eerie feeling for Rose. Spirits weren’t limited to the dark, they were just harder to see in the light. But now as they walked, she heard nothing. The only sound was leaves rustling in the wind and the occasional car passing by. Nick’s heart knotted sensing her worry. Were they too late?

Rose stared at her headstone and beside hers, Edmund Piers 1667–1695. “Eddie?” she called. “It’s Rose. Are you here?”

Still nothing. Nick’s heart sank into his stomach. She moved on further down the rows. “Eddie? Margaret? Anybody?”

Jade looked around. “Maybe we need a summoning?”

Rose squinted, focusing on any movement. A rolling leaf. A shadow between branches. A roaming squirrel. Then she saw it. The shimmery silhouette of a once human figure. The spirit turned towards her. “Margaret!” Rose called, waving.

“Oh, Rose. You came back,” she said, smiling.

“Of course I came back. I brought help. This is Jade. She’s a witch and we’re hoping someone might know something about the curse on the cemetery.”

“Another witch.” Margaret made a flippant hand gesture and turned her face away.

“What do you mean another?” Rose asked. She had never seen Margaret rude and unattached. She was normally a sweet, caring woman.

“Witches are the reason we’re in this mess. Best not to trust them.”

“But Jade is here to help. She might be able to break the curse.”

“You’ve always been optimistic,” she sighed. “There is no helping us. I suppose I should have stamped out that hope in you a long time ago.”

“Margaret! How can you say that? Look at me!” Rose gestured to all of Nick, “I’ve never been able to possess anyone before. This is our opportunity, don’t you see? This may be our only chance to break the curse, and you don’t even want to try? We have nothing to lose in trying and everything to lose by not! You saw how those dark things are reaching farther. Do you want everyone in here to end up like them? Do you?”

Margaret stared at her glassy-eyed, if ghosts could have glassy eyes. The hope had died in her decades ago, possibly centuries. She was afraid to hope again. Afraid to have what was left of her heart broken. She looked out over the cemetery grounds, all the headstones and spirits locked inside it. Then she looked at Jade who shifted and peered around the area Rose was talking towards. She couldn’t see Margaret, but she could sense her.

“I don’t know much about the curse,” she said. Rose gulped, wondering if she was telling the truth. “I only know it was put in place by a witch killed during the witch trials.” She pointed to the tomb where the darkness radiated. During the day the darkness receded, no trace of it to be seen. It looked like a harmless tomb now, like all the others.

Margaret shrugged. “I admire your determination, Rose, I do. But I’ve been here for 300 years and no one has ever gotten close to breaking the curse. Go on and try if you must.” She looked at Jade again, skeptical and measuring. “I just hope she doesn’t make it worse.”

Margaret’s figure faded and disappeared. Rose whirled towards the tomb.

“She’s gone.” Rose announced. “She didn’t know anything more than it was from a witch killed during the witch trials.”

“That was centuries ago,” Jade said. Rose nodded. “Damn. That is a long time.”

Rose headed to the tomb, examining it. She hadn’t gotten this close before, even during the day. Everyone usually stayed far away from it. “This is the source of the curse and the darkness.”

“Whoa,” Jade said. “Didn’t you say there was a zone?”

“Not during the day. The light keeps the darkness away.”

“Just don’t touch it,” Jade said, shuddering. “I can sense the curse.”

Rose nodded, understanding. She wasn’t going to take any chances. The name on the side read Abigail Hart 1692 and nothing more. Jade took a picture with her phone.

“Well, I’m going to head back and see what I can find online about her and the time period. Do you want to stay and talk to your friends?”

“No. Margaret is the oldest spirit here. If she doesn’t know anything, no one else will.”

“We should go to the library,” Nick voiced. Rose smiled that he had joined them. “There’s bound to be old records there that might not be online. Divide and conquer.”

“That’s a great idea, Nick,” Rose said.

“It’s really freaky watching you two switch back and forth in the same body like multiple personality disorder,” Jade stated. “Don’t do that in public.”

“Already established that,” Nick said.

“We talk in Nick’s head instead,” Rose added. “When we remember.”

Jade tapped at the side of her head. “Remember more or Nick will get sent to the mental ward.”

“Library, shall we?” Nick began walking away, disgruntled, with Jade giggling behind him and jogging to catch up.

—

Jade took to the computers on the first floor while Nick and Rose filed through old records about the witch trials in the basement. They had started in Salem, MA but the hysteria had grown all over. Their little town in Connecticut was no exception.

Court cases and newspaper articles depicted crazed women, and some men but mainly women, cursing members of the community into convulsions and illness. Many were convicted, sentenced to death, and were hung, burned, or drowned as a result.

“Jesus,” Nick said. “They had no proof whatsoever and all these people were killed so brutally.”

Rose put a hand to their mouth as they came across a court case against a girl as young as twelve accused of witchcraft.

Nick’s phone buzzed in his pocket. A message from Jade read “I found Abigail Hart’s name listed as one of the women sentenced to death but nothing else. Any luck down there?”

He typed back. “Not yet. Keep looking.”

Nick’s hands tapped on the microform machine as he racked his brain.

“We’ve gone through all the records from her death year but maybe her court case was before that. Check 1691,” said Rose.

So they did. It felt like days had gone by and as they were about to lose hope, there it was.

Nick’s phone rang just as he was reaching to text Jade. “I was about to message you.”

“I know,” she said, “What did you find?”

—

“Here’s the plan,” Jade said, setting out a plethora of herbs on the kitchen table. “I can’t know for sure the exact curse she placed but seeing as she was tortured for a month before her court case, she was probably pretty pissed off. I know I would be. Honestly, do you really blame her for cursing the people torturing her for who she was? Just because she was a witch, and they really couldn’t even prove she was one before her torture, it doesn’t mean she was using black magic.” She shook her head.

“Anyway, I’ll do a reverse of the curse that she most likely would have used. No guarantees it will work though.”

“Trying anything is better than nothing,” Rose said, hopefully. “I appreciate all of your help. You don’t know how much.”

Jade smiled. “Girl, I got you. I wouldn’t want to be trapped there for as long as any of you have. Your time is long overdue.”

Rose nodded appreciatively.

“I did some research on the dark things you described. Only thing I could find was just a pure evil that corrupts anything it touches. I think the curse, and possibly Abigail’s soul, had festered in anger and hatred so long that it manifested into evil. We have to drive out the evil first before I can break the curse. And to do that, we have to go at night.”

“No!” Rose and Nick said unanimously. Their voices came as one but they had both reacted at equal time. “I can’t risk either of you being corrupted by those things,” Rose added.

Jade’s shoulders relaxed. “It’s the only way to eradicate it. It has to be out and active.”

Rose chewed their bottom lip, a mannerism she did while she was alive when she was nervous or contemplating. This time she was both.

“You said the light keeps them away right?” Jade asked.

Rose nodded their head, “Yes.”

“We’ll bring a light then and keep it aimed towards us.” Jade waved her hand and returned to mixed herbs.

“And how exactly will we power this light in the middle of an ancient cemetery?” Nick asked, his tone dripping with annoyance.

“Spirits have energy to turn on lights. I’m sure one of Rose’s friends will be more than willing to help. Plus we’ll stay outside the danger zone.” Jade giggled at the phrase. “Danger zone.”

Nick rolled his eyes. “And what if the zone has already spread or spreads further while we’re there?”

Jade slapped her spoon down onto the counter. “Why are you so negative?”

“Why are you so abrasive?” Nick countered.

She turned and glared, taking a step closer. “Why are you so closed off from the world?”

Nick stepped back, glowering. “What does that even mean?”

“Stop fighting!” Rose shouted, throwing their hands down.

Jade’s lips turned inward. Rose huffed and ran her hands down Nick’s shirt, smoothing out wrinkles. “We have a mission,” she said, reminding them. “And you’re both acting like children. If we can’t work together then we don’t have a chance in hell.” Her voice broke and she choked down a wave of emotion that had crashed down over her. It’d been so long since she had felt emotions like this, it was overwhelming. She turned away.

Jade placed a hand on Nick’s arm. “Hey, it’s ok. I’m sorry, Rose.”

Rose took a breath and swallowed. “It’s not me you should be apologizing to.”

She turned Nick’s body to face Jade. Jade’s gaze roamed head to toe before reaching his face again. Nick looked away. He was in control of his head but Rose kept his feet firmly planted in place.

You, too. She told him.

“I, um…” he started.

There was a long awkward pause before Jade broke the silence. “I’m abrasive because I’ve been bullied my whole life, for my lifestyle.” She gestured around her to the herbs scattered across her counter, the crystals hanging in her window, the tarot cards on the table. “And…” She gestured to herself, a woman with bright purple hair, brown skin, and tattoos adorning both her arms. “I didn’t mean to take it out on you, though. So I’m sorry.”

Nick blinked. “People are shitty. I can’t understand why anyone would bully you for this.” He gestured around her, to the medicines and tools in plant form, the warmth and color radiating through the stones, the answers to people’s burning questions about life. “Or this.” He gestured to her hair that brought a smile to his face, the tattoos he wanted to know the meaning behind, her beautiful, flawless skin, to her as a whole. “I think you’re really cool.”

Jade stared speechless for a moment before turning on her heel. “Thanks,” she said and returned to her herbs.

Nick took a step in her direction. “I’m negative because every time something positive happens in my life, it falls apart. I’m closed off because any time I let someone in, they hurt me, or leave, or both.” He fidgeted with his hands, a nervous habit he had when there was nothing else to occupy his anxiety.

Jade turned to face him again.

He continued,”I didn’t mean to take it out on you, either, though. So, I’m sorry, too.”

Jade placed a hand on his, calming their movement around each other. Something fluttered in his chest.

“People are shitty. I’m sorry that happened to you,” she said. “I think you’re a decent guy and you don’t deserve that.”

He chuckled, “Only decent, huh?”

She smirked and shrugged a shoulder. “That’s high praise coming from me.”

If a soul could smile, Rose’s would’ve been grinning from ear to ear.

—

It was nearly midnight when they returned to the cemetery. Nick was carrying the construction light they managed to borrow from Jade’s neighbor. Jade had all her herbs and spell books in her backpack and held the biggest flashlight she could find, which could double as a weapon if need be. Rose, this time, was just along for the ride.

They passed rows upon rows of headstones. Spirits watched them as they passed. Some followed, curious. It freaked Nick out to see what Rose could see. But she kept him calm. He followed Jade, trying not to look at them.

I still don’t see Eddie. Rose thought. Where could he be? She prayed the darkness hadn’t gotten to him.

They reached the edge of the dark zone. Nick’s heart was already racing as the dark things roamed around the tomb. Jade couldn’t see them but the look on her face told them she could sense their presence. Nick turned around towards the spirits that gathered. Rose spotted Margaret on the outskirts and waved. Margaret nodded.

“Has anyone seen Eddie?” Rose asked. “I’d like him to work the light.” She motioned to the construction light by their feet. But everyone shook their heads.

Another spirit, Oscar, stepped forward. He had died from tuberculosis back in 1718 at the age of 35. He tipped his hat and said, “I’d be happy to be of service.”

Rose curtsied and Jade felt the urge to laugh. “Shush,” Nick said.

“Oscar will help with the light. Other than Eddie, he is the best with energy,” Rose explained.

Jade copied Rose in a curtsy, though she wasn’t facing the right direction. “Thank you, kind sir.”

Oscar smiled, “I like her,” He said and turned on the light.

Nick and Jade shielded their eyes at the drastic contrast as light shone around them. The dark things shrank back closer to the tomb. Rose wasn’t sure if they had emotion, but if they did, they seemed scared now. Hopefully that meant they were on the right track.

Jade took out her herb mixture and spell book. She flipped through the pages and began to recite a spell as she lit the herbs. They smoked and smoldered in her clutch.

Nick’s chest clenched from Rose’s anxiety. She prayed this worked. It had to. It just had to. Please work. Please.

The trees swayed as the wind picked up. The dark things began vibrating, convulsing, and squealing as the spell went on. Jade tossed the burning herbs at the tomb. The dark things howled as the smoke billowing around them. They charged, throwing themselves at the edge of the dark zone. Nick and Jade flinched as they bounced off and pacing back and forth and the light flickered violently.

Jade chanted louder. They dodged leaves and fallen branches as the wind grew stronger. The dark things turned more violent, pounding at the invisible barrier keeping them at bay. Their shrieks grew deafening.

Then light went out, plunging them into darkness.

“Jade,” Nick shouted as he shielded his face. He was about to say this was getting bad, that maybe it wasn’t working and they should stop. But then, one by one, the dark things started bursting until none were left.

The wind died down and Jade collapsed to her knees, breathing heavy. The black shadows of the dark things, now gone, dissipated with the smoke from the herbs. And the cemetery went quiet.

Nick knelt beside Jade. “Are you ok?”

“Yeah,” she said, “It just took a lot out of me.” She twisted her flashlight back on and swept it over the dark zone.

“Did it work?” Rose asked. “Are they gone for good?”

Before Jade could speak, two spirits faded into view. Emily and William, seven year old twins who had gotten too close to the dark zone while playing among the headstones skipped away from the tomb and rejoined their mother who was overjoyed at their return. Rose had watched the darkness consume their souls and here they were, back to their original forms. More spirits returned. All who had been corrupted by the darkness floated out and joined their family and friends again. Some were spirits Rose had never met, had been corrupted before her arrival to the cemetery.

Rose choked on tears. “It worked,” she said. “You did it, Jade. Their souls have been restored.”

Then Rose saw a spirit hovering by the tomb she had never seen before. A young girl, maybe twenty, looking around the spirits and the cemetery. She shrank back inside the tomb as Rose met her eyes. “Wait,” Rose called, rushing over to the tomb.

“Rose, be careful.” Jade said. She held onto her protection pendant as she followed.

“Abigail?” Rose called, nearing the tomb. She still didn’t touch the stone, just in case. The evil was gone, but the curse was still in place and she wasn’t messing with it. The tomb stayed silent.

“Abigail. My name is Rose. We want to help you.”

“Go away,” she hissed.

Rose pleaded, “Please, Abigail. No one blames you for the curse. You’ve been through some truly awful things but it’s been over 300 years. It’s time to move on. You want to move on, don’t you?”

There was a silent pause and Rose glanced at Jade, thinking Abigail wasn’t going to respond. Then she whispered. “I can’t help. It’ll only come back.”

Rose furrowed their brows. “But you can. Just tell us what you did and Jade can reverse the curse.”

More silence followed.

“Abigail?” Rose looked at Jade and shook her head when there was no answer.

“Leave it be, Rose.” Eddie’s figure hovered nearby, inside what used to be the dark zone, but still far from the tomb. Rose jerked her head up, thankful to see Eddie was alright. But what did he mean, leave it be?

“Eddie,” she started, making her way around the tomb. His blank face made her pause. He didn’t look happy to see her. In fact, he looked displeased to see her, an expression she had never seen him use towards her before.

“You’re messing with things that you don’t understand. Leave it be before you make things worse,” he said.

“Look around,” she said, “We’ve gotten rid of the darkness, spirits have been restored, everyone is safe now. We just need to break the curse and we’re free.” Her voice wavered, catching in her throat as she spoke the last word, free. She had longed to move on for so long, and they were so close to it.

“You’re not listening. Leave. It. Be.”

She shook her head. Why was everyone so reluctant to hope? “I understand you’re afraid-”

“I am not afraid!” Eddie bellowed. Rose startled and stepped back, feeling his energy heighten. “You can’t break the curse, Rose. Only the one that placed it can and they’re dead! We’re stuck here, forever. So stop meddling.”

“Eddie.” Before she could continue his figure vanished. He was still around, of course, but he turned off the energy required to be seen, even by other spirits. She looked towards his headstone next to hers, in case he had gone back to his grave. He wasn’t there. Only a lone spirit, one she hadn’t seen before wandered around the area. He was probably one of the spirits they freed from the darkness. One who had been consumed before she died.

Rose’s frustration made Nick’s cheeks grow hot. “If you know something, Edmund Piers, you get back here and tell me this minute. You’ve given up, fine. But I haven’t. I’ll never give up. We have nothing left to lose.”

The spirit by her headstone stared at her, his eyes wide and confused. When Eddie failed to re-appear or say anything more, she turned back to Jade.

“What was that about?” Nick asked.

“What happened?” Jade asked.

Rose shook their head. “I’m not completely sure, but let’s just do what we came here for.”

Jade took out her spell book again and a potion she made. She started chanting the spell when the tree above them began to sway and shake. Rose looked up and screamed, pushing Jade out of the way as a large branch fell to the ground.

Rose whirled, looking for what, or who, had caused it to drop. That large of a branch could have killed them both. There was no sign of any spirit but it could not have been a coincidence. Another branch fell behind them, and another in front.

“Ok, ok,” Jade said, closing her spell book. “We’re leaving.”

The tree went still and they wasted no time getting out from under it.

“Try again here,” Rose said as they got to the footpath.

“Are you crazy?” Nick asked. “We could’ve been killed.”

“We can’t just leave, we’re so close.”

“I think Nick is right, Rose,” Jade said, packing up her stuff in her backpack. “Let’s regroup tomorrow.”

Nick felt his heart drop into his stomach at Rose’s disappointment. “We’re not giving up,” he told her. “We just need a new plan.”

Rose nodded, halfheartedly. “Ok, you’re right.”

She looked around, glaring at any invisible spirits that may still be watching.

Nick picked up the light and they headed out of the cemetery. Just before they reached the iron gate, Oscar appeared, halting Nick and Rose in their tracks. His demeanor wasn’t his normal relaxed self. He seemed on edge, his eyes roaming around as though he were afraid of something. But what was there left for a spirit to be afraid of? They had vanquished the darkness.

“Oscar, what’s wrong?” Rose asked.

“Eddie,” he said. “He’s not who you think he is.”

Rose opened their mouth to ask what that meant when a strong wind burst through the trees and Oscar disappeared. Yelling and howling echoed behind them as the wind picked up. Nick and Jade hurried out, leaving Rose more lost than ever.