The Hayes Bed and Breakfast Inn

Sleepy Hollow, NY

October 31, 2000

9:54am

The painful throb became clearer with each passing second as the sounds of muffled words permeated her tainted sleep. The sound of the door closing finally roused her from any last bits of sleep. Pulling herself up slowly, Scully groaned. Hearing her, Mulder walked back towards her bed.

"I see your awake, sleepyhead. How are you feeling?" Coming down next to her, Mulder pressed his hand to her forehead.

Scully pulled back staring at him curiously, "I'm fine, Mulder. Um, what are you doing?"

"You don't remember waking up last night? You were disoriented and had a terrible fever." Mulder checked her face for any signs of bumps or contusions. Scully furrowed her brows as she shook her head.

"I don't recall anything, Mulder are you sure your okay?" Scully asked as she pulled herself up from the bed and walked towards the bathroom. Mulder shook his head as he watched her enter the bathroom. Muttering under his breath, Mulder got up and walked over to the door. Knocking gently he called out to her.

"Uh, Scully since you're feeling better; Mrs. Hayes came by this morning to invite us to their annual Halloween party tonight."

Opening the door, Scully peered at Mulder, "You didn't?"

Backing away, Mulder nodded slowly, "You don't understand Scully, she said everyone in town will be here tonight, that's our perfect opportunity to keep on eye on them all; to scope out suspects." Mulder added as he moved towards her bed.

Scully followed as she tied her robe tighter, "Suspects, Mulder? I thought you already knew who your suspect was?"

"Oh I do. But I know how much you love to try and prove me wrong." Knowing the bait was set, he threw her a puppy dog look. Rolling her eyes, she sighed heavily.

"Fine, sure, whatever," She grumbled as she turned toward the bathroom; Mulder cleared his throat. Turning back around, he looked sheepishly down at the floor.

"Mrs. Hayes insisted that we look the part," Mulder started. Dropping her shoulders, Scully gave him an incredulous look, "So she graciously lent us some costumes."

"Mulder…" Scully whined as she came forward; Mulder pulled up an emerald colored gown that twinkled in the glimmering sun light. Scully's face softened, "Oh Mulder, it's beautiful."

Mulder smiled, "Mrs. Hayes had an old trunk of costumes that she let me choose from for a dress for you." As Scully caressed the dress, she looked up and smiled.

"Thank you Mulder." Shrugging his shoulders, Mulder blushed slightly.

The Hayes Bed and Breakfast Inn

Sleepy Hollow, NY

October 31, 2000

6:38pm

Waiting anxiously near the front door, Mulder absentmindedly kicked at invisible nothings with his foot. Women took much too long to get ready for anything, Mulder mused as he impatiently glanced at the clock again. The crowds of people ambushed him carefully, hoping to meet the FBI agent who was investigating their only bit of excitement since the forest fire.

"So what is it like to work for the government, Mr. Mulder?" A starry eyed girl flirtatiously pried as she batted her eyelashes.

"Uh, well…" Mulder stuttered as a vision of green satin floated into the room, his eyes locked with hers as she blushed slightly. Ignoring the girl,he excused himself. Scully smiled slightly as she smoothed at her gown. Curls of red tresses dangled slightly from her head as the rest clung to a jeweled clip. The dress fit perfectly which Mulder breathed a sigh of relief, considering it would have not gone over well if he had guessed wrong, or so he supposed. It was a gorgeous dress indeed, the dark glimmering jade bodice fit tight against her letting the rows of fabric from the waist flow down in a charade of curtains. Mulder's heart jumped in his throat as his eyes failed to look away.

"Mulder," Scully acknowledged as he approached her.

"Scully, you uh…look phenomenal." Mulder breathed. Smiling, she took Mulder's arm and gestured towards the main hall where most of the townsfolk had congregated. Mummies, witches, wizards, skeletons, and princesses filled the room with a certain ethereal glow. An enchanting melody filled the room, as the two entered. Silence entangled the two as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. The room spun as he ushered her to follow his step as he moved with the sounds. Dancing was something the two had shared before, but her heart nevertheless beat faster. The heart pendant glimmered, noticing Mulder's stare.

"Scully, where did you get that pendant?" Mulder asked.

"Hmm? Oh this. It's just an old pendant I've had for a while." She stated, glancing her eyes away from him. He didn't buy her story but didn't press the subject any further. There was something strangely odd about her since last night but he couldn't quite figure out what it was. As they danced past the window, Mulder watched the window with intensity still sensing that tonight something would happen. The trees in the distance remained still as the fog curtained around them.

As the music died down, Mulder broke away from Scully. Mr. Hayes came up to the two, "I'm so glad you're both here tonight; the latest killings have the town spooked." Scrunching his brow, Mulder eyed the room noticing the laughs and smiles that filled the room.

"I must thank your wife again for lending the costumes to us tonight, I really appreciate it." Scully doted. Mr. Hayes nodded.

"It was nothing Agent Scully. The investigation is moving along I presume?" Mulder nodded quickly.

"They are Lieutenant Hayes. I will have a full status report for you in the morning." Mr. Hayes smiled and bowed a bit.

"Then please excuse me while I attend to the rest of my guests." Mr. Hayes walked away leaving the two agents alone again. As the music began, Mulder extended his hand out again, she accepted. The song moved slower than the last forcing the two to stay in the same spot.

"Scully, I've been thinking that perhaps since the murders are in the same vicinity perhaps we should excavate that area again, only this time we should look underground." She chuckled as she pulled her arm closer to his body.

"Mulder, is that all you can think about right now?" Shrugging, he perused the windows again. Scully shook her head slightly before she leaned into his chest. Feeling his chest pound, she giggled lightly. Pulling her away, Mulder questioned, "What?"

"Nothing," She giggled again.

"You're lying, what is it?" Mulder asked again, staring at her. Her smile faded as she sucked in a slight gasp. Her body felt hot for moments before she let her lips part slightly. Moving forward and on her tip toes, she pressed her own lips to Mulder's. A sharp breath passed between them as he was caught off guard. Her mouth lingered on his for moments before he pulled away slightly and grazed her cheek with mouth. She murmured quietly, "Oh, Thomas."

Mulder pulled back, "What?" A loud scream echoed through the house as Scully began to speak. Both let go and rushed to the door and out into the inky night. Dressed in a black gown with striped stockings the girl rushed towards the house, still crying out.

"He's out there! I saw him!" Dropping to her knees, another woman from the house fell to her side.

"Anna, who?" The woman asked as she wrapped her arms around the crying girl.

"The horseman! I saw him! He's out there." A dry moan whirled around the guests as the wind carried it from the forest.

Mulder looked out at the forest but saw nothing. He turned to speak to Scully only to catch a glimpse of her face as she took off running into the forest. Abashed, Mulder called to her.

"Scully!" Her dark green skirt trailed after her as she took off even faster into the fog. Unsure of what had just happened, Mulder followed after her. As the twigs whipped at her trying to snag her gown, she pressed on. Her heart beat fast as she grew alive. The fog moved breaking in the distance where she suspected he would be. She gasped as she stopped in the open.

"Thomas! Where are you?" Her voice bellowed in the silence. Mulder rushed in through the forest searching for her. He listened to the branches and leaves that snapped under his weight when he heard her voice call out. Thomas? She had said it again. His mind reeled as he tried to understand what was going on. Breaking through the clearing he found her standing in the middle calling out in the night again.

She cried for Thomas again as he came forward. "Scully? What's going on!" She ignored him and continued calling. The wind swept past them carrying the sounds of a horse's whinny. Mulder froze for seconds before he realized what the sound was. The sound of hooves pounding raced across the south entrance of the clearing.

"I think I enjoy my head, thank you!" Mulder quipped as he yanked on Scully's arm pulling her with him. She shrieked and resisted.

"Let me go! Thomas!" She twisted as she pulled. The pounding grew louder, "I have no idea what's wrong with you but we have to go!" He forcefully grabbed her waist and threw her over his shoulder. Running as fast as he could go, he raced into the fog. It clung to everything shielding his eyes from any sense of direction. Scully screamed and pounded him as he continued on.

"Scully!" He huffed loudly. The pounding followed after them as the sound of sword meeting branches screeched. The weight of Scully slowed him down so he put her down and dragged her along. She tried to pry at his fingers but she tripped on a root. She tumbled forward knocking Mulder down with her; the two rolled down the hill into an old dry creek bed. Mulder face impacted the ground hard sending a groan from him. He looked up and found Scully inches away face down, her arm bent the wrong way. Broken, he quickly thought as he stood up. The sound of the horse wafted away as though the horseman was looking for them. He pulled on Scully's good shoulder and tried to rouse her.

"Scully!" Mulder hissed as he crawled to her. Scully moaned slightly as she felt the pain of her broken arm.

"Scully's not here…" She muttered. Pulling herself up, she inhaled sharply at the throbbing pain.

"What are you talking about?" Mulder came toward her. In an instant her pain seemed to fade away as her eyes grew wide. Spinning in a circle, she looked around with a huge grin.

"Their here! I can feel it!" Dropping back to the ground she caught herself on her good arm. Propping her bad arm against her she clawed at the ground, "Their here!" She cried again.

Mulder crawled to her, "Shh…He'll here us."

"Then dig! Hurry!" She commanded. Mulder came closer to her.

"Didn't you hear me! Dig! If you want to see Scully again, you'll dig! He's coming." This invigorated him; thrusting his hands in the dirt, he began to dig.

"My name is Matilda and that apparition as you call him is Thomas. I've taken your partners body for the moment to finish what happened all those years ago. I have to find my body and his head or he will never rest." She spoke with a reverence that Mulder respected.

"The pendant," Mulder whispered.

"Yes, the pendant was my means to link to a physical body. I have to finish it or we can never rest. I know their here. I can feel it." She continued as she clawed through more dirt. The hooves pounding grew louder again.

"Hurry! He draws near!" Mulder listened and dug faster. His nails hit something hard causing a shooting pain to fly up his arm.

"Ouch! I think I found something!" He whispered. She moved closer and brushed the dirt away.

"It's there! Hurry!" Her fingers broke through the eye socket giving her leverage to pry it out. As she pulled harder, Mulder brushed away more dirt where he hit more covered bones. The skull came loose as she fell backward. She cried out in pain as her arm hit the floor. The horse's breath came close by. She brushed off the skull with her skirt as she tried to brace herself and stand. Mulder brushed away even more of the dirt covering the bones near him. Then behind him came the sound of the horse sliding down the cliff wall. Turning around he found himself staring up at the headless horseman on his horse with his sword drawn. Scully ran forward.

"Don't Thomas! It's me, Matilda!" She cried out as she blocked his path to Mulder. As though she had called out some magic word, the horseman stopped mid track and made no move. Scully held up the skull she held.

"I found them. Now you can rest," She somberly added; her words nearly catching in her throat. Mulder remained motionless as the two interacted afraid any movement would enrage the horseman. But he instead dismounted and came toward Scully. He prayed she was right about him. In a wave of iridescent light Matilda appeared before the horseman as Scully fell back towards the ground. Mulder moved to catch her in his arms. The pendant was gone and he looked back up at the apparitions where Matilda was wearing the pendant now. In a light that shined so bright, Mulder's eyes burned. As the light faded, they were gone. Nothing but the bones of the horseman lay heaped next to the skull Matilda had unearthed and Mulder lying in the dirt holding a limp Scully in his arms.

Tarrytown General Hospital

Tarrytown, NY

November 2nd, 2000

He watched her as she peacefully slept; her arm bandaged, her chest burned in the shape of a pendant and her face covered in scratches. She was certainly tough, he surmised. Lightly grazing her hand with his thumb, he sat and watched her. Her eyes stirred bringing Mulder out of his trance. The frosty blue of her eyes glimmered and her breathing became quite sharp as she awoke.

Mulder reached for the glass of water and handed it to her; she nodded slightly as he placed it against her lips. When she finished she smiled at him, "Hey."

"Feeling better?" He asked as he placed the glass down.

"I think so although I can't remember very much." Mulder laughed slightly.

"You've been through a lot, I'd say. I did some digging yesterday after you recalled your dream to me. It seems that Sleepy Hollow has some skeletons in the closet they didn't even know about. I found records of a Mr. Lessat and his daughter Matilda Lessat and of a Mr. Victor Baudelaire who it seems disappeared after he left for Europe in 1809. So I dug even further. Matilda Lessat was presumed dead or missing after she never came home on October 31st, 1809 as well as a Thomas Cunningham. Mr. Baudelaire was questioned in their disappearance but he gave an intriguing story about their plans to elope. He was never questioned again after he disappeared two days later…"

"But he killed them. I saw it." Scully interrupted.

"As I believe as well; their bodies were never found. I think that Victor split them intentionally as his means to keep them apart even in death. He took the pendant from her and buried Thomas with it as well as his sword. Then he took Thomas' and Matilda's heads as well as her body and sent them down the river where they finally made their way down to the dry creek bed which at the time probably was a small pond which would account for why the bones didn't decompose much. The horseman began to ride within days from legends I've found and the deaths began then so the priest from a neighboring town was called in to bless the bridge that separated the forest from the town which would account for the gap between deaths from then until now. The bridge burnt down in August when the murders first began. Matilda's soul remained lost in limbo and when you found that pendant she used it as a means to enter this world; which would explain the high fever you experienced that night. Matilda found the bodies; they're being excavated as we speak for proper burials. The heads of the victims were never found. I don't think we'll ever find them."

"Mulder, I…"

Interrupting her, Mulder spoke again, "I know Scully, you find this hard to believe but I've found some evidence that I thought you might appreciate. As I said Victor disappeared in 1809 but at the same time a man by the name of Washington Irving arose. A man by all accounts was a decent man except for the gruesome murders he committed in 1809."

"Mulder, you're trying to say that a literary genius was a cold blooded killer?"

"Just bare with me Scully. In 1803-1806, Mr. Baudelaire traveled Europe where he became a fashionable writer in newsprints and such. He used several pen names. What if one of these had been Washington Irving? He had enough money to start a new life. Matilda's last name was Lessat right? Well if you write it backwards, it spells Tassel. Like Von Tassel. Her death is mentioned by Irving himself when he was quoted saying that his fiancé died at the age of seventeen; her name was Matilda. The facts all point to…"

Scully brought a finger to his lips, "Mulder, even with those facts, there isn't enough evidence to back up your theory. There comes a time when you have to let it go. The killings have stopped. We've solved the mystery. Their souls have been laid to rest. We're done."

Mulder chuckled softly as he laid his head against her bed, "I suppose your right. As you've said before, some truths aren't meant to be found."

THE END