Chapter 4

It was mid morning by the time Julia stumbled her way through the woods and onto the edge of the white lawn that surrounded the great estate of Collinwood. The grand house with its tall towers and stone walls stood imperiously before her like a parent scolding their child for being out all night. Even the thick layer of snow couldn't soften the hard edges nor lighten the dark corners of that stoic house.

Julia straightened her creased clothes, wiped away a few crows feet from her eyes, and plastered a bright smile on her face. There was bound to be questions about her late arrival, and she wanted to effect as little concern as possible.

Julia strode up the lawn with more energy than she felt, but a new-born curiosity gave her energy when she noticed an unfamiliar station wagon parked near the front doors. A few wreathes hung on the entrances and as she stepped inside she saw the grand spruce in the foyer had been decorated head to foot in silver tinsel and an assortment of bobbles.

The doors to the drawing room were open, and through them Julia could see Elizabeth Stoddard, mistress of Collinwood, in deep discussion with an unknown woman. The woman was about thirty with bobbed blond hair. She wore a short white skirt and white dress coat over a white shirt. Her blinding ensemble was finished by a pair of white high-heels and a large purse of the same color.

At Julia entering the room, the stranger looked past Liz and at her. Liz glanced over her shoulder and smiled at her long-time guest. "Julia, what a pleasant surprise. I was beginning to worry."

"I'm sorry. Something kept me until this morning," Julia apologized as she walked over to the women.

The pair stood and Liz gestured to the stranger. "Julia, allow me to introduce Miss Deborah Messenger. Miss Messenger, Miss Julia Hoffman. She's a resident historian for my family."

Miss Messenger held out her hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Hoffman. I hope to get some insightful information from you regarding the grounds."

"The grounds?" Julia asked her.

"Oh, excuse me," Liz interrupted. "Miss Messenger is here to take photographs of the estate for a magazine. Here-" she reached down and picked up one of the magazines. Liz flipped through the bright pages full of photos to a particular article. "These are some of her works."

Julia took the magazine and studied the photograph. It was of black-and-white photo of a wizened old tree with gnarled branches. At the bottom typed in bold print was a name. Deborah Spellings.

"Is 'Spellings' your maiden name?" Julia asked her.

"My married name. I'm divorced," she explained.

"How unusual for a professional woman to make a name for herself and then change it," Julia commented.

Miss Messenger shrugged. "Then I guess I'm a very unusual woman."

Julia leaned back and examined the woman with a keen eye. "Did you get into town last night?"

"No, this morning."

"Speaking of last night, Julia-" Liz spoke up, "-were you down at the Old House again?"

Julia nodded. "Yes, I was. Willie had an accident chasing a trespasser off the property-" she kept her sharp gaze on their guest, but the woman merely continued to smile, "-and I thought it best to stay with him for a few hours."

"Oh dear. I hope it's not serious."

"Just a minor concussion. He'll be all right in a day or two," she assured her as she picked up one of the magazines. She flipped through the lump of photos ascribed to their new guest and arched an eyebrow. "You seem to have a fondness for taking pictures of twisted, gnarled trees with bare branches."

Miss Messenger laughed. "I have a strange fascination with the beauty of death," she admitted.

Liz wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. "I don't like such talk."

"Then if you will excuse me, I'd like to start taking pictures."

Liz bowed her head. "Of course, and please show me the results as soon as you can. I'd like to see how you interpret the grounds."

"I will, and thank you again for letting me do this," Miss Messenger replied.

"It's no trouble, now let me show you to the door." Liz and their guest exited the drawing room, leaving Julia alone with the magazines.

She furrowed her brow and tucked the one in her hand inside her suit coat. Coincidences at Collinwood always spelled trouble, and she had a feeling this one would be no different.

The day passed like any other, and at sunset Julia, well-rested from a long day's sleep, walked back to the Old House. The snow crunched under foot and the tough trees held aloft the burden of the heavy mounds of flakes.

Julia paused on the path to the home and tilted her head to one side. A noise had reached her ears. She couldn't place the sound, but there was an unnatural ring to it that made her think of someone jostling a tree.

The noise didn't repeat itself. After a long moment she shrugged and continued onward. Little could she suspect that a blemish existed among those innocence-covered trees.

In the depths of the woods stood a large, gnarled tree. The great arbor stood in the middle of a clearing surrounded by its own ancient roots. Fall had robbed it of its leaves, but not of its character. Its brittle branches showed its long decay, and the hollow hole in the center hinted at its nearing death.

A feminine figure covered in a cloak stood before the tree. Tucked under one arm was an old book bound in aged leather. A large circle of lit black candles wrapped around both the tree trunk and where she stood. The flickering flames cast the figure and the tree in dancing shadows.

The figure drew the book from under her arm and held the tome in her outstretched arm. She opened the thick pages to the back on which was drawn a diagram. The candles were placed in the exact same position as the spots in the picture with the tree standing before a human.

The person raised her hand-revealing long red nails-and their feminine voice boomed over the wintry silence. "Ancient spirits who inhabit this haunted tree, hear my prayer. I wish to call forth the spirit of one who died in innocence." A harsh breeze whirled around the area, extinguishing all the candles but those behind the opposing figures. Their shadows cast into one another in the empty space between them, creating a deep blackness on the ground. "Come to me, spirit. Rise and come!"

The flames of the remaining candles burst upward like flares. Specks of firelight flew out from the central shadow and swirled around in the spot between the woman and the tree. They swiftly formed into a small figure in an old-fashioned dress.

It was Sarah, and she had a pout on her lips as she eyed the woman with suspicion. "Who are you? What do you want with me?"

The woman drew back her cloak to reveal herself as Deborah Messenger. "I want only peace for you, little girl. Peace for you, and peace for me."

"But I like playing here," Sarah insisted.

Messenger knelt down so her eyes were even with those of Sarah. "You must be very lonely, dear Sarah."

Sarah's eyes widened. "How do you know my name?"

"I know a great deal about you, Sarah. About how you died so young and so innocent. That's why I need you to help me, and in return you'll receive peace," Messenger told her.

Sarah took a step back and shook her head. "You won't give me peace! You're evil!"

Messenger laughed. "What makes you say that?"

Sarah pointed at the book. "That's an evil book! I can feel it! You leave me alone!"

Messenger sighed and stood. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Sarah," she cooed as she pressed her palm across the open pages.

Sarah's eyes widened in terror as Messenger opened her mouth to read from the book.

Julia reached the Old House and found an unwelcome surprise. Willie strode the length of the portico with a shovel in his hands and a mess of snow before the hand plow. He pushed the load off the edge and returned for another long pace.

Julia marched up to him. He paused and smiled at her. "Hiya, Julia."

"Willie, what are you doing out of bed? Your ankle probably won't be healed for another day or two," she scolded him.

He shrugged. "I just thought I'd get some shoveling done before it got real dark."

Julia grasped his upper arms and turned him toward the front door. "I think that can wait for another day or two while you get back to bed."

"I'm all right. Really," he insisted.

"I know what I'm talking about-Willie!"

Willie's eyes had rolled back in his head and he collapsed onto the ground.

Julia knelt by his side and shook his shoulders. "Willie! Willie, can you hear me?"

The front doors opened and Barnabas stepped out. "Julia? What's the matter?"

"It's Willie again! He's fainted!"

Barnabas hurried over to them and stood over the pair. "How did it happen?"

Julia grasped one of his hands in hers and shook her head. "I don't know, but we must get him inside. He's as cold as ice."

Willie was even more perplexed than his companions. One minute he was on the portico with shovel in hand and the next he stood in a dark area. The Old House was gone, as was the shovel from his hands. He spun around with his mouth agape. The floor beneath him was pitch-black, and above and around him stretched an endless horizon of darkness.

All except for one small shape a few feet from him. The little figure was huddled on the floor with her legs clutched against her chest. Her head was bowed, but the distinct sounds of a little girl crying came to his ears.

Willie strained his neck and he recognized the unmistakable bonnet. "Sarah?" he whispered.

She raised her head and blinked at him. Her cheeks were stained with tears. "Willie?"

He strode over and knelt beside her. "What are you doing here?"

She looked down at her lap and shook her head. "I don't know. One minute I was out in the woods, and the next I was in here. I've been calling for so long, but nobody came."

Willie set his hand on her shoulder and smiled at her. "Well, I'm here now."

She raised her head and returned his smile. "You are, aren't you? Why are you here?"

He swept his eyes over the area as he shook his head. "I don't know. I don't even know where 'here' is."

"Maybe this is you," she suggested.

Willie blinked at her. "What's that?"

She stuck her lips out in an impatient pout. "I said maybe we're inside you."

He leaned back and studied her with doubt in his eyes. "Me? I don't get it."

"You will understand soon." The darkness around them deepened. Her small form faded into the shadows.

"Hey! Hey, wait a minute!" Willie protested as he tried to grab her. His arms came up empty. Willie struggled to his feet and looked around at the growing darkness. "What'll I understand? What?"

Only her faraway voice responded. "Soon. You'll understand soon."