Copyright © 2023 by â Brynn Morgan â All Rights Reserved.
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It was a night of fear in the Griffin household. Lainie, too afraid to be alone, crept into Bella's bed and tried to rest soundly. Unluckily, Emily was awakened from a horrible dream. In it, she had been in Hasting's house on the top floor hallway, which was completely dark.
Suddenly, a door at the end of the hall began to creak open, letting out a beam of moonlight. Out glided an apparition; it stopped in mid-air and gazed at Emily with lifeless eyes. She stumbled backward but could not escape as the ghost kept coming closer and closer to her. Death seemed inevitable until she suddenly woke up. Her t-shirt was soaked with sweat, and her heart, racing wildly in her chest. The dream scared her badly, so she decided to curl up next to Davis, who was sleeping soundly on his pallet. He instinctively turned around and wrapped his protective arms around her body while she snuggled against him. Peaceful sleep followed.
Clarrisa and her siblings were going to do a purifying ritual when the moon was full, which was the next night. Lainie announced this to Davis and Emily during breakfast before they started their day. She had taken some extra vacation days off work for Bella so she could get some clothes that fit her as she was growing quickly. Meanwhile, Davis drove to a nearby farm to look at recently born foals.
Emily chose to stay in the house and went online on the desktop to look for a job and a place to live, but all she found were closed doors. She had not finished any college education, and these days, you need one to have an established job with good pay.
At age 19, she had completed nearly two years of community college before having to abandon it due to her alcoholic mother losing her job because of too many absences. Emily had no choice but to find employment so that their family would survive. She applied for full-time work in a bookstore, and there she met Luke Buchannan.
It was love at first sight, and he began coming around every afternoon to study in the store's lounge area. He asked her out after closing time, and she agreed without hesitation. He treated her with respect, giving her flowers and boxes of chocolate candy.
Half a year later, Luke popped the question, and she said yes. Despite her mother's strong objection and guilt-tripping tactics, Emily still chose to accept. Luke told her straight-up that she was enabling her mother's unruly behavior; this had been true since her father left them when she was just a little girl because of her mom's drinking. He said that nothing would change until Emily stopped letting her mother walk all over her.
The couple decided to move to Columbia, South Carolina, where Luke had just finished college and gotten an IT job at a call center. Her mother flew into a rage as Emily announced their plans at the dinner table. "You are just going to abandon me like this? After I did so much for you?" Her voice grew increasingly shaky. Emily quietly got up from the table and started carrying plates over to the cramped kitchen, but her mom followed close behind. "It says in the Bible that you have to honor your parents!" She tried another tactic to stop Emily from leaving. "God won't take kindly to how you're treating me!"
Whenever it suited her purpose, her mama would always mention what the Scripture said. Without turning around, Emily continued with what she was doing. Her mom shoved her shoulder and made Emily drop all the dishes onto the floor. Even though she felt anger boiling inside of her, she kept her composure and spoke slowly. "Wait a year!" She smiled softly, connivingly. "I will gladly give y'all my blessing at that time!" She said in a cheerful voice, but that had an undertone of desperation.
"Mom, using guilt is not going to work. I am marrying Luke, and that is final." Emily picked up the dinner plates and made her way through the kitchen.
"But how will I survive without you? You do not even care, do you? Going off to Columbia with a man you barely know, leaving me behind!" Her mother broke into sobs, though Emily had heard all this before.
"I handed in my notice at work - I leave on Friday morning. You need to get a job, Mom." Emily spoke calmly as she ran the water in the sink and immersed the dishes in it. There was no response from her mother.
The woman followed her around desperately, looking desperate with her wide eyes and dark circles under them. "What had you to do such a foolish thing? That was our only source of income! Call them back, sweetheart; they would surely take you back after the wonderful job you did there!"
Emily turned to face her mom. Her expression was blank as she listened.
"Here is what I suggest: stay here for another year and let me get myself together. We can find a nicer place and have satellite TV again if you do." Her mother pleaded persuasively. "It is recommended that couples should live together for at least one year before getting married anyway!"
Emily's feet took her away from her mother and into the living room, then down the narrow passage to her bedroom. She walked in and glanced back. Her mom was directly behind her. "Alright, Mom," Emily said, just like she always did, in a resigned voice before locking the door behind her.
Later that evening, she packed a few essentials in a duffle bag while her mother slumbered and left the apartment without turning back. She drove to the home of her grandparents, which was about forty-five minutes away in a nearby town. It was there that Luke got her on Friday morning.
Emily's mama was standing outside shouting threats at her daughter. Her grandparents had to call the police to get their daughter removed from the premises.
Now, Emily sat alone on Lainie and Davis's couch in their living room with thoughts of her mom's last words as she stood on the porch screaming for everyone to hear. "I wish for you to experience pain as I have felt it. May it come back to you tenfold." Those words still replayed in Emily's mind now. From that point forward, there was no relationship with either her mom or grandparents. At times, Emily wished she could phone her grandmother and take comfort in hearing her kind voice; She knew Grandma could have given some helpful advice. The ringing of her cell phone interrupted her thoughts. "Hello?"
"Hi, Emily, it's Hillary Gant."
Emily was taken aback but kept her composure."Hello, Hillary." Her tone remained even. Hillary cleared her throat softly."Did Maureen and Claude tell you about what happened during our visit?" Emily asked incredulously.
Hillary cleared her throat before responding."Maureen said that you and your friend almost died, with the chandelier swinging madly and pictures falling from the walls onto the stairs, all after the door at the end of the hallway opened. She can be a bit dramatic at times and even said something about a witch casting spells in the upstairs hallway," she chuckled.
Emily recounted how they had found Clara's journal. "Do you know anything about this girl, Clara?" she queried.
Hillary shook her head, admitting she had never heard of her, not even in family stories passed down through generations. Emily then asked if she knew anything of Penelope, to which Hillary replied negatively again. All she knew was 'The Girl', used as a threat to scare children away from entering the upstairs area. Whenever any calamity occurred, it was blamed on The Girl. Penelope or Clara was completely new information for her.
Emily asked Hillary one last question, "What happened to Georgia, Paris, and London? Did they die young?"
Hillary took a deep breath and said sadly, "All I know is that they died young. I'm sorry for not being able to give you more information."
Emily pressed further. "Do you remember anything else about their deaths?"
Hillary nodded. "I do remember now. I was bothering the cook one day; her name was Essy, and she told me to leave. Repeatedly. But I kept pestering her until finally, she said: 'If you don't behave yourself, The Girl will get you just like she did all the Hastings girls.' It scared me so much! Shortly after this conversation, I met (The Girl) in my room!"
Emily was shocked. "Do you think (The Girl) killed them? All that is written on their tombstones is their names." She went on, pointing out how young the girls were when they passed away: fourteen for Georgia, twelve for Paris, and eighteen for London. Then she finished confidently. "It's too much of a coincidence that London died here at this house."
When Lainie arrived home, she found Emily on the phone in the kitchen. She mouthed, "Who is it?" Emily put her on speakerphone and explained that they were talking to Hillary about a girl named Penelope who had died in Hastings house many years before. Emily mentioned something from Clara's journal about how Penelope had hung herself on the second-floor railing and how Clara had been locked in a room at the end of the hallway.
Hillary sighed and said she would reach out to members of their family to learn if anyone could supply more information about how the sisters had passed away. Emily then told her about their plan to return to the house the following night to try to perform a cleansing ritual. Hillary replied that Maureen and Claude had left for now but would return when things quieted down, wishing them luck with their endeavor before ending the call.
"Do you believe her, Emily?" Lainie asked.
Emily looked at Lainie and shook her head. "I do, I think. Hopefully, she can find a family member who knows more about the Hasting girls."
***
The moon shone full and bright, a deep yellow in the night sky. A breeze blew through the gates of Hastings House as a group of cars parked beneath the weeping willows.
Davis, Lainie, and Emily's car pulled up just a bit later once Bella's sitter arrived. The sight that met them was breathtaking: five women wearing long white cloaks gathered, holden lit white candles.
Clarrisa looked so different from how they had ever seen her before. Her long red hair flowed over her shoulders, and her green eyes glittered in anticipation. She motioned for the newcomers to join them. "Sisters," she began, pointing out each one in turn, "This is Davis, Emily, and Lainie."
They all greeted them with warm smiles. Luna pulled back her hood to reveal golden-blonde braids with coffee-colored skin that sparkled in the moonlight. Her catlike eyes were golden-brown, and she wore a labradorite stone around her neck on a softly clinking silver chain. With her towering height and painted leopard-print nails, she looked like a powerful lioness, her voice husky and deep."Hi. I am here to help you. I will protect the South." Her accent was Creole Geechee, and she was Gullah. She bowed to them, placed her cloak back over her head, and turned away.
Clarrisa led them to the next woman, whom Lainie recognized at once. It was Sharon from the NICU. She looked completely different. She was on the shorter side with a long brown braid, and around her neck, she wore a smoky topaz stone on a long gold filigreed chain."This is Rian," Clarrisa said softly.
Rian looked at them, and her eyes were kind and light hazel. She smiled at Lainie."Hello, Lainie. Rian is my Wiccan name. I am here to help you. I will protect the North." She bowed her head at Davis and Emily, then turned to her sisters, dismissing them.
The next woman was of Asian origin and was extremely lovely. She had silky black hair that gleamed like satin, and her slanted eyes were full of wisdom and black as night. The stone around her neck was Rose Quartz, suspended on a Rose Gold chain.
"This is Jasmin."
Jasmin looked at each of them and raised her hands in a prayer pose.
"I am here to help you. I will protect the West." She bowed as well and turned to her sisters.
The fourth woman turned, and she was the oldest of them all. Her hair were silver and gray, and her eyes were deep green. She looked to be from the ancient line of Druids, as Clarrisa had mentioned. She looked so much like Clarrisa with her upturned nose and full lips. She smiled broadly. Her stone of choice was a deep amethyst, which was large and hanging on a leather strip above her heart. Her voice was light and musical."I am Clarrisa's mother. You can call me Willow. I am here to help you. I will protect the East." She turned away from them.
The witches approached the home's front door, and Willow opened it tentatively. They stepped into the entranceway, and Clarrisa waved for Davis, Emily, and Lainie to join them. The entryway was illuminated by a myriad of flickering candles that cast long shadows up the high walls and staircase. At the sight of this, Emily shivered; she remembered being propelled down the stairs not too long ago and thinking she may never get out alive.
The women knelt before the flames from each direction as they stood beneath the grand chandelier. Clarrisa started the ritual with a chant:
"We come from north, south, east, and west to make all things right; we come in peace, harmony, love, in light to bring you rest this night. We wish you no harm." She repeated it until she was done climbing the steps to the top floor.
Once there, Clarrisa pulled out a small black box from her cloak that had red lights across its top surface that lit up when she flipped its switch. She handed it to Davis with instructions to hold it firmly. When he asked what it was, she replied, "It's a ghost box," then added that she would use it to try communication with whatever entity lurked in their presence. With that said, Davis followed Clarrisa down the hallway with diligence.
"My name is Clarrisa, and I am here to help you," she said as they walked down the hallway. "I do not want to cause harm; I only wish to lead you towards peace and bring you to the light. Are you ready to follow me?" Suddenly, a creaking noise filled the room, and Emily and Lainie both jolted with fear. The sound of the sisters' chanting downstairs was still audible. "Can you tell me what is keeping you? Did someone hurt you? I am sorry that this is your reality," Clarrisa said in her trans-like voice.
They came upon an open room at the end of the hallway, lit only by a small candle that Clarrisa held in her hand. As they entered, a door from the other side of the west wing slammed shut. Emily screamed out in horror but saw nothing when she looked back. Clarrisa instructed Emily to give her the doll in the cradle, which had no eyes but stared back nonetheless. Emily handed it over, and Lainie stayed far away from the entrance, still scared after being attacked earlier. Clarrisa cradled it in one hand and softly caressed its head.
"Is this your doll? she asked. "Can you tell me your doll's name?" Davis stood next to the wall holding the recording box and froze as he saw the cradle slightly rocking out of the corner of his eye. Clarrisa saw it, too. "Is that you? Are you saying hello? My name is Clarrisa. I want to be your friend and end your pain. Will you tell me your name? You do not have to suffer anymore. I want to help you."
Lainie began to swat at her head frantically. Her voice was panicked."Something is touching my head," she said, panicking.
Davis looked at her, and Emily walked over to her.
"You're okay, Lainie. I am right here," she assured her.
Lainie's head was jerked back suddenly, and she cried out in pain."Stop it!!" she screamed, hitting the top of her head. Emily watched Lainie's head and saw the short hair moving around on top of her head; she grabbed her and pulled her down to the floor."Please get me out of here!" Lainie begged. "Please." she sobbed.
"Did you do that to my friend?" Did you hurt her on purpose just now? That was not nice of you!" Clarrisa yelled out.
They took Lainie back down the stairs, and the witches extinguished the candles. They all left the house together. Lainie got in the car, and Davis and Emily stayed and talked with the sisters. Willow had a very grave expression on her lined face. "There is something very wrong in that house. My friends, it is the darkest form of evil, and it wants to hurt you. It wanted to kill her tonight." she said, pointing to Lainie in the car. We could put up walls of protection, but Jasmin ..." she trailed off.
Jasmin spoke up, and her voice was shaking "There is death here. It is strong. I was chanting, and my stone grew hot and burned me. Rose quartz is a stone of love, but that house has no love. There is only hatred, vengeance, and death. No love is in that house."Jasmin pulled her hand away from her neck, and there was a burn on her throat. "We need to hear the recording and see if the spirit communicated with Clarrisa tonight. We will review it and then let you know our findings. We may hear something, or we may not." she finished.
Rian stepped forward then. "Stay togetherâall of you. You will be safer together tonight. It is a bad feeling, friend. A horrible feeling is in this place. It is a suffocating presence. May the goddess protect you."
Clarrisa turned to Emily and Davis."Take care of Lainie. I will be in touch later tonight after we listen to the recording and see if we caught anything."
Davis and Emily nodded and left the house, followed by the sisters. They were being watched as they pulled away in their cars. She watched, hovering from the window above the doors and looking at the car's lights driving through the gate. Her black eyes filled with rage. Her mouth gaped open wide in hate.