Lady of the Manor: A Poltergeist Is No Guest

Chapter seven: A Dark Night's Tale

Part one

"Turn right at the next intersection, Fred." Velma had taken the place of navigator, sitting with Fred and Daphne on the front seat while Candice, Shaggy and Scooby pretended to be comfortable in the back. A bolt of lightning lit the clouds above; their faces illuminated in sharp relief. Fred switched on the turn signal, slowing as he moved into the turn lane. It was mid-afternoon but the dark, storm filled clouds made it appear like twilight. Only Velma's voice broke the silence that had permeated the van since they began this journey.

"Stay on this road about a mile, whatever is left should be on the right."

The lot looked vacant and neglected through the rain splattered windshield. The unattended appearance did nothing to negate the uneasy feelings inside the van. Daphne felt a chill creep up her spine in spite of the hum of the car's heater. They had been on many adventures, why did this one feel different?

No one spoke, no command given; Fred was the first to open his door, the others following suit. They gathered at the rear of the van, Shaggy handing out high beam lanterns. Top of the line, the shafts of light cut a path across the road before being swallowed by the storm induced twilight. They knew what to look for, something, anything to indicate they were in the right place. Stretched across the face of the vacant lot, they began their search.

Progress was slow, painstakingly so. After the fire, the ruins were razed, cleared and discarded. Every inch had to be gone over and inspected in minute detail. They had traversed only a short way when Velma knelt, picking up a shard of glass. The fragment was of the best Pennsylvania stained glass; an image of a small bee hovering over a white flute shaped flower.

"It's a Cestrum Nocturnum. We have arrived."

"Can you speak English for the rest of us, Velma?" Shaggy laughed, reaching out to help her up. Their embrace was short, touching, ending as soon as it began.

"It's night blooming Jasmine," Velma continued. "The flowers open only at night; the strong scent draws the nocturnal insects."

"Finally, we get to split up and I have the perfect trap in mind." Fred was near jumping with joy.

"Hate to rain on your parade, Fred, but what exactly are you going to capture?" Daphne raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"Come on Scoob, while they try to figure out how to detain a ghost, we'll take the scary route; we always do anyway." Shaggy and Scooby started to walk away.

"Not so fast, Shaggy." Candice lifted one arm, stopping Shaggy and Scooby in mid-step. "You don't have to split up and no, you and Scooby do not have to be live bait."

"No splitting up, no live bait? We could get used to that, huh, Scoob? I wish all our adventures could be like this!"

"Be careful what you wish for, Shaggy. By this nights end, being live bait may not sound too bad."

The air shimmered, the new wood building wavered then became solid. The bell tower rose proudly, the sweet sound of the bell called the believers to worship. "Remember the rules, fifteen minutes. GO!"

"Daphne, remember that movie, "Scrooge", we watch every year?"

"I remember, Fred. Scrooge meets the Spirit of Christmas past and they go back in time. So?"

"I think we're about to be Scrooged."

"Jinkies! I've got a bad feeling about this. Something is wrong." Velma held Shaggy's hand tightly.

Holding hands, Mystery Inc. crossed the threshold into the church and into a mystery that would haunt their lives forever.

Part two

The place of worship had begun with a few people gathering in homes. Monies had been collected until enough had been gathered to buy land and lumber. One of the parishioners donated the land, the lumber was bought from a lumberman with a view for profit. This gentleman had the proper woods fresh from the surrounding forest. The unfinished trees should sit for a year for seasoning; an offer at a reduced rate placed a sizable profit in his deep pockets.

The sweet scent of Jasmine was thick in the air as the five friends surveyed the interior of the modest dwelling. Located on the edge of the growing village that soon would have to be declared a town, it reflected the class distinctions of the times. This was no where more obvious than the groupings of the ladies and gentlemen that gathered throughout the room; the men discussing business in their 'Sunday suits' while the women collected together to share gossip and the latest fashions and who was wearing what. A third distinction, the young mothers with babes, these were positioned toward the back near a separate room used when the babies became restless or needed to be nursed.

"Don't even think about it, Fred." Daphne caught his arm, "this may be a hundred and fifty years in our past but there is a reason why it's called a nursery. You and Shaggy locate George, Velma and I will look for Catherine."

A flash of lightning washed the dark skies and all eyes flew upward then to the oversized stained glass window. The following clap of thunder slashed through any and all classes. The preacher used the ensuing silence as the perfect time to call the Sunday meeting to order. The sound of swishing silken dresses and undergarments was paramount as the congregation moved to personalized pews. Each pew had been bought and paid for by families or in some cases poor families going in together to guarantee a place to sit during service.

"Velma, you said you felt something was wrong. What is it?" Daphne pointed at a young woman moving toward the nursery. "That's her."

"It's that window, Daphne. Cestrum Nocturnum only blooms at night, bees don't fly at night yet there they are in that fancy glass, together, doing what nature never intended."

Fire needs three elements to begin and continue. Fuel, provided by the wooden structure, oxygen, and the last, heat, supplied by a bolt of lightning caused an explosion that rocked the building and ripped a gaping hole in the roof. Within seconds the trapped sap in the unseasoned wood began to bubble, feeding the quickly growing fire. Smoke started filling the room below.

"Fire!" An unknown man screamed. Other screams were heard as people rushed toward the door. Try as

they might the door wouldn't open; burning sap dropped down on the milling people, turning their bodies to fiery torches. Young women ran from the nursery, hurriedly buttoning blouses, holding their babies to their chests.

"George!" The group of friends watched as Catherine looked frantically for her husband. "The window!"

The fire had drawn the air from the room, creating a vacuum of sorts. The window held as long as it could but the fire couldn't be denied; it exploded inward, showering the congregation with sharp shards of glass.

TBC