Vin placed a foot on the stairs and hesitated before straightening his shoulders and stalking on up.
Chris took a deep breath and followed, Mary prowling along behind.
"Stairs. There would be stairs," Josiah groaned pitifully.
"You want for us to carry you up, preacher?" Buck chuckled.
"No," Josiah growled. "May the good Lord teach you empathy . . . in my presence, so I can gloat." Josiah glared at the unrepentant Wilmington.
"Now preacher, what kind of example is that to the children?" Buck chuckled.
"Thou shalt not provoke the preacher to wrath." Josiah suddenly smiled, revealing an amazing amount of teeth.
Buck's mouth opened and snapped closed. Turning, he climbed the stairs quickly, staying out of Josiah's reach.
Everyone politely ignored the soft curses as Josiah climbed the stairs. Once they all reached the next floor, they stared in shock. The trail of cards wove in and out of assorted rooms and continued into a wall.
"Vin wasn't up here, was he?" Nathan demanded.
"Not that I know of." Chris grimaced.
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Vin walked down the hall to where the card trail entered the blue room where Sarah Larabee had slashed her wrists and Crooks had been attacked by the possessed bedding. Tanner turned into the room, but before Chris could follow, Vin returned, holding a small leather covered book.
Mary flashed a delighted smile before snatching the journal out of Vin's hands. "Is it? It is! I knew he could find them. It's one of Barbara Petrie's diaries." Travis enthused as she flipped through the pages.
Mary's rude behavior elicited no response from Tanner who simply turned and continued to follow the cards. Vin soon paused before a blank wall and waited.
"This card would appear to be facing this particular section," Ezra noted, indicating the misaligned card. Ezra began searching the section of the wall on Tanner's right, while Maude searched to his left.
"No imagination," Maude sniffed before pushing up on a picture frame. A faint click and a hidden door swung open.
Horrified exclamations filled the air as the almost mummified corpse of a scantily clad woman was revealed.
"I can't say for sure, but I think her neck's broken," Nathan muttered thoughtfully as he craned his neck, attempting to get a better view without disturbing the body.
"Is it Salvia?" Buck asked sadly.
"Hair is the wrong color," Chris answered. Larabee's face held a mixture of relief and disappointment.
"It's a wig," Nathan pointed out. "I can't tell what color her real hair is."
"Too young to be Barbara, she was in her 90's," Mary stated.
"I'd say she died in the mid to late 1950's, the way the bra is styled." Nettie suggested.
"Then it's not Salvia or Serena," Chris whispered.
"Are there any other women reported missing?" JD asked from several feet away, carefully not looking into the closet.
"Emma Dubonnet, 1955; an actress and singer," Josiah answered before Mary or Jock could. "My first crush. I was devastated when she disappeared." Josiah admitted. "I was ten at the time and completely heartbroken."
"Why don't I remember her? I love old movies," Bruce mumbled.
"You must not watch late night grade B movies," Buck answered uncomfortably.
"You're being kind, Buck. I would consider Emma's two films to be no better than Cs," Josiah grinned. "She was not . . . talented."
"Shit! Where's Vin?" Chris demanded, realizing that, once more, Tanner had cat-footed off.
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Vin walked out of another room holding two more journals that Mary snatched from his hands. She purred delightedly as she glanced through the pages. "These are 1925 to 1940," she crooned, holding the three diaries tightly. "Each one of these covers five years."
Vin looked down at the card trail and once more took up the hunt.
"What about her?" Bruce waved at the hidden closet.
"She's not going anywhere, son." Josiah gently herded the group on down the hall.
Vin left the hall and entered a room with the others trailing him. Several small expensive items found their way into Maude's possession as she moved around the room. A hidden drawer in a desk revealed three more of the leather clad diaries.
"1910 to 1925," Mary sighed happily as she gathered the books into her arms.
"Let me help carry them for you, Mary," Buck reached out.
"No! They're mine!" Mary snarled, stepping back. Her eyes had darkened to an oily black.
"Fine, carry them yourself," Chris huffed. Yanking a pillow case off a pillow, he tossed it to the furious woman. "You're going to start dropping them if you don't do something."
"I'm sorry, darling. I don't know what came over me." Mary smiled at Chris sweetly.
"Greed," Larabee snarled before turning to follow Tanner.
Once the diaries were located, Vin seemed to have no further interest in them and began searching anew. The darkness which had become their constant companion was starting to crowd them more the further they advanced into the inner sanctum of the house. Nervous looks were sent Mary's way as she began to hum the Stephen Foster tune as she walked. Bruce and Tony had tied their ropes together when they came to the end of the first rope. The two staged a mini 'tug of war' to assure that the knot would not fail.
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The entourage entered yet another bedroom. This one decorated in shades of scarlet. Flocked wallpaper and crushed velvet trimmed with black fringe seemed to drape everywhere. Maude sniffed disdainfully, brushing her sleeve as she took in the decor. "New money does seem to be so pretentious and . . . tasteless. Ah do declare, this room appears to belong in a brothel."
Mary's eyes narrowed in fury at the insult to the house.
"Mutha, please! Remove the silver ring box from your pocket and restore it to it's rightful resting place," Ezra hissed softly.
"It isn't like it will be missed, dear boy," Maude smiled and patted Ezra's cheek, speaking in a faint whisper so as not to be over heard.
Vin reached up, straining to search the top shelf of the closet.
"Something up there you want, Junior?" Buck asked before lifting Vin off his feet.
Buck, gasping for air, looked into the anxious face of Nathan, hovering over him. It took a moment to realize he was on the floor against the far wall.
"What the hell happened?" Buck gasped, sitting up.
"Vin happened," Nathan sighed. "You scared him real bad. I figured he had killed you as hard as you hit that wall. Now the kid's crawled back into that safe place of his and he ain't comin' out."
"Aw, hell," Buck gingerly stood up, turning to look at the Buck shaped depression in the wall board.
"How are you feeling, Buck?" JD asked worriedly.
"Flat," Buck groaned, rubbing his aching shoulder.
"You're lucky. If it hadn't been for the wall studs, Vin might have shoved you all the way through that wall," JD chattered excitedly.
"Yeah, real lucky," Buck grunted.
Vin was backed into a corner, his knees pulled close to his chest, and his hands tucked protectively in between, while he rocked violently. His head lay on top of his knees, and the blue eyes were tightly closed.
Everyone, with the exception of Casey and Nettie, had gathered on the other side of the room near Buck, giving Vin plenty of room.
Pulling a chair from the vanity, Mary stood on it, and began searching the top of the closet. Her search was finally rewarded as she found yet another diary. Smiling happily, she sat down in the chair and began to read.
"How did I scare him?" Buck asked in bewilderment.
Josiah started to speak , only to close his mouth with a snap. Nettie shared Vin's background in confidence. "When you picked him up, it scared him." Josiah explained.
"I think it had something to do with the closet," JD frowned thoughtfully. "I think you triggered a memory of some kind of abuse."
"Damn," Buck whispered.
"How bad is Buck hurt?" Chris asked Nathan softly.
"Bruises and a bump on the head, but nothing too serious," Nathan smiled in relief.
"Chris, say something," Josiah said softly.
"What?" Larabee asked distractedly.
"I was right," Josiah smiled widely. "Keep talking, Chris. Tanner is listening to you."
"Are you sure?" Larabee demanded.
"Josiah's right. The rocking hesitates every time you speak," Tony agreed.
"Hey, Pard. It's alright. Come on, now open those eyes and look at me," Chris coaxed, moving closer.
Nettie immediately pulled her hands back and wrapped her arms around herself tightly in an effort not to reach out when Vin flinched away from her, pressing himself even tighter into the corner. She began softly singing an old hymn, trying to comfort the panicked Tanner anyway she could. Nettie nodded and indicated Larabee should continue but didn't stop singing.
Chris continued crooning to Tanner in a soothing tone.
"1905," Jock muttered, glancing at the date of the diary over Mary's shoulder.
The diary snapped closed with a solid thump. A dangerous glitter lit Mary's eyes as she glared at the other reporter. Carefully, she placed the most recent diary into the pillow slip and stood. Upon realizing Chris's attention focused on Tanner, a furious look crossed the woman's face.
"Christopher darling, leave the boy and come up to bed now," Mary's voice held a sultry tone as she glided over, laying a possessive hand on Chris' shoulder.
Larabee jerked away from the icy touch and snarled. "Don't touch me. We've never had that kind of relationship and I'm sure as hell not starting now. Steve was my friend. Billy is my godson. If it hadn't been for that boy, I'd have left you to hang yourself years ago."
Mary's black eyes filled with madness. "Darling, don't be nasty. Behave yourself." Once more, she reached out to touch Chris, only to be pushed out of the room by a wall of solid air.
A soft whimper from Tanner carried in the now silent room.
"Here, Vin. I'm right here." Chris knelt down so he was less threatening.
Vin's rocking stopped abruptly and his head jerked up. Wide sapphire eyes opened to stare in disbelief at Larabee.
"Hey, cowboy," Larabee crooned.
Desperately, Vin threw himself at Chris, knocking him over. Instinctively, Larabee threw his arms open and pulled the trembling man close. Tanner tucked his head under Chris' chin, desperate hands kept clutching at Larabee's clothes.
"I'm here," Chris assured the frightened young man, rubbing his heaving back comfortingly.
After several minutes, Vin stood up and headed for the door.
"I guess he's still hunting," Larabee groaned and followed Tanner into the hall.
"Ezra, darling." Maude tugged gently on Standish's sleeve to get his attention as he started past.
"Yes, Mutha," Ezra sighed.
"Do attempt to stay in that young man's good graces, darling. It would so disturb me to see you ripped limb from limb," Maude drawled, carefully suppressing the shakiness of her voice.
"I will endeavor to do so, Mutha. I find the thought to be rather disturbing mahself," Ezra drawled.
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"Looks like the end of the line," Chris muttered, looking at the wall that closed off the corridor.
"Look for another hidden catch," Ezra said as the reached out to examine a painting. "As a Rembrandt, it would be valued in the millions," he sighed. "Regrettably, this one is a forgery."
Casey pushed on an ornate piece of trim, triggering the release of the catch. The section of wall swung back easily, revealing another wide corridor.
The searchers continued down the hall, following Vin. Tanner pulled on a picture frame, allowing a diary to slide out and drop to the floor, to be quickly snatched up by Mary to be stuffed in the pillow case with the rest. A window seat provided another of the leather clad books, and yet the trail continued.
"Whoa, guys," Bruce called. "We need more rope." He held up the tail of the rope he had been playing out. Buck handed over the coil of rope that he was carrying.
"Hope Junior finds what he's looking for before we run out of rope," Buck sighed.
"You and me both," Tony breathed uncomfortably, turning his head quickly in an attempt to locate the movement he kept catching out of the corner of his eye. It's dark, hairy and close to the ground, whatever it is.
Another bedroom provided another diary, this one hidden under a mattress. Vin turned down a new hall and came to a dead stop, staring at a wall off to his right.
"That's where the cards lead," Chris growled, looking down at the trail disappearing under the wall.
The hunters began to search for the trigger to release the hidden panel.
"Shouldn't we cease this ridiculous scavenger hunt and do something constructive? Like get out of this house," Sydney Crooks raised his voice in another of his unending tirades.
"Sydney, please. If you aren't going to assist, then please stop that incessant, childish whining. It is quite unattractive," Maude snapped.
Hidden smiles were exchanged as Professor Crooks ceased his never ending complaints.
"Found it," Bruce crowed, pressing down on a section of flooring until there was a click and a faint seam could now be seen in the wall.
Chris tugged hard, getting the panel to swing open.
A cut off yelp and startled gasps greeted their find.
What was once an elegantly decorated bedroom contained the remnants of horror. A broken skeleton still lay tethered to the four poster bed. Metal shackles still secured the broken limbs to the posts. Assorted implements of torture had been tossed haphazardly on the dresser and night stand. Darkened stains splattered the walls, bedding, and rugs. Shredded bits of fabric and a few lank strands of hair still hung to the skeleton. One of Barbara Petrie's diaries lay on the dresser amid the darkly stained tools.
"She was pregnant," Nathan sighed sadly staring down at the remnants of a human being. "I'd say no more than 3 months along."
"1885, that leaves two diaries. The first one started when the house was laid out and the last one Barbara was writing in at the time of her disappearance." Mary snatched up the stained diary and slipped it into her pillow case.
"How do you know? I mean, Barbara was a mature woman when the house was built. It seems logical that she had a diary before then." Jock questioned.
"No, she started writing in 1880," Mary smiled sweetly, trailing a finger down a stained quirt. Sauntering over to the bed, she looked down at the skeleton. "Chris is mine. He always was and always will be. You shouldn't have gotten in the way, tramp," Mary hissed.
"I wonder who the poor thing was?" Nettie said sadly, keeping a jaundiced eye on the disturbing Mary Travis.
"Serena Larabee," Chris sighed, looking down at a delicate anklet encircling the left ankle of the woman's skeleton.
"Kester's Serena?" Buck choked.
"My grandmother," Chris sighed. Casey opened a blanket chest and removed a comforter. Angel stepped forward and took two corners and the pair spread it over the pitiful remains.
"Where's Vin?" JD blurted, looking into the hall.
Chris hurried out, followed by the others, only to find Vin standing in front of a pair of wooden doors. The peach blossom motif was intricately carved into the mahogany surface.
"Barbara's bedroom," Mary sighed in delight. Pushing the door open, she stepped in.
Vin rocked animatedly, his left hand clutched the box of Ezra's card tightly. His right arm was wrapped around himself, holding pony tight. A soft agonized sound filled the air.
"Easy, son," Nettie stood close but hesitated to touch the distressed Tanner.
When Chris stepped in the room, Vin plastered himself against Larabee's back.
"Oh, God!" Buck whispered hoarsely.
Old blood splattered the walls and floor. A bloody knife and an extension cord had been tossed down. The imprint of a small body still marred the white lacy coverlet on the bed.
"Elf," Chris whispered, touching the stained surface.
Vin stood frozen in the middle of the room, shivering so hard his teeth chattered.
"Isn't it a beautiful room, Christopher? Help me find my diary, darling." Mary was digging through dresser drawers.
Larabee ignored Mary as he stared down at tiny bloody foot prints. Chris turned to follow the new trail.
The foot prints ended at the closet door. Shakily, Chris opened the door, bracing himself for what he would find. Neatly hung garments, perfectly lined up shoes, and boxes of hats filled the closet. With a hoarse cry, Larabee began to rip the clothing down and toss out the shoes and hat boxes, searching for his brother's body.
"Oh, Elf," Chris sobbed, laying his hand over a tiny bloody hand print.
Vin's voice rose abruptly into a terrified keen.
"Chris, Junior needs you," Buck called sharply.
Angrily, Larabee backed out of the closet and turned with a snarl. "I need to find Elf!"
"The living before the dead, Chris," Buck gently chided.
Vin was trembling and gasping for breath, reaching for Larabee desperately. "No, no, no, NO!" he screamed, starting to back out of the room.
"Mr. Tanner, calm down and think," Ezra crooned, standing in front of the doorway blocking Vin's exit. "We can't allow her to win." Vin's panicked eyes dropped to the deck of cards in his hand.
"Pard, help me," Chris said softly.
A frown drew Tanner's eyebrows together but the keening and rocking stopped.
"Please, Vin," Chris asked desperately.
Mary smiled delightedly as the troubled youth took a hesitant step toward Chris and then another, skirting widely around the bed.
"Thank you." Larabee grasped Tanner's forearm.
Vin looked down in puzzlement before grasping Chris' forearm, finishing the bond.
Tanner stumbled along beside Chris. Wide eyes stared at the foot prints on the floor.
"How can you be certain they belong to your brother, Mr. Larabee?" Crooks suddenly demanded.
"Cause Elf had him an extra digit on each hand and foot," Buck snarled, brushing past Sydney rudely.
Nettie's eyes were locked on a tiny foot print. She straightened to her full height, a determined look on her face, stalked to the closet, and began searching for a hidden panel. Abruptly, she was lifted off her feet and set down outside of the closet. A shudder shook the room and dust filled the air. Light seemed to pour into the room from the closet as the dust settled.