The Calling: A Paranormal Mystery Vol. I (5 page)

Mary drew a deep breath and began, “Her name was Sunday, Sunday Stewart.  Her family moved over there on Oak and Second in about 1990. 

“Where Justin Blake and his family live now?” 

Mary nodded. 

“So, she was about 15 I think, maybe 16.  I think she was a sophomore.  She was a nice little gal.  They belonged to my church.  They were a nice enough family.  They had a young boy as well, he was a little younger than Sunday.  Unfortunately he was the one who found her.”

“Found her?” Lizzy repeated.

“John and Silvia, her parents, worked a lot.  They were both on the fast tracks at their jobs.  Sunday got herself hooked up with a boy, I won’t say who.  Apparently, they had gotten serious, at least Sunday thought they were on the road to marriage.  You know, teenage girls,” Mary paused and shook her head in disbelief, “sometimes they make more of love or the act of love than it really is.”

“So, what happened?” Lizzy pleaded. 

“The boy left for college and got engaged to another girl.  He failed to inform Sunday.  She found out when the engagement announcement came out in the paper.  She was crushed.  She solved her grief by taking every pill she found in her parent’s medicine cabinet.  The cocktail was enough to kill her.  She left a note that simply said ‘I hope they’re happy in hell.’ Her little brother came home from school and found her on the couch, dead.” 

Lizzy and Mary sat in silence for a few moments. “Why do you ask Lizzy?” Mary said finally.

“Mary, Ben Blake told Karen’s son Billy that they thought a spirit had been haunting their house, a spirit of a teenage girl.  She would bang on the walls and scare them half to death.  About three weeks ago, Karen had several strange incidents at her home.  She has lived there for over two years and has never had any issues or strange happenings.  All of a sudden, she has water turning on and furniture moving and knocking on the walls.  Apparently, Ben told Billy his story and Billy was experiencing the exact same things.  Billy put two and two together and thought maybe she had somehow come to his house,” Lizzy waited for Mary to toss her out on her ear.

Mary didn’t seem entirely surprised.  “Lizzy, I’ve heard some things about that house the Blake’s live in over the years.  You know, people don’t talk about that kind of stuff very often but occasionally something slips out.  I’m not surprised, although I don’t know why in the world Karen would experience anything.  Doesn’t she live a few streets over?”

“She does,” said Lizzy, “but what she is experiencing is very similar to what Ben said was going on at their house.  Ben had been in Billy’s room about three weeks ago. He was collecting his paper route money and Billy took him inside to show him a video game. The only thing I can figure is the ghost somehow had attached to Ben and moved over to Karen’s,”   Lizzy now realized she sounded ridiculous. 

“I don’t know about any of that Lizzy,” said Mary, “but it was a sad situation all around.  I feel bad for the families who have lived in that house because I don’t think Sunday’s spirit has been at peace.” 

Lizzy decided to change the subject and asked Mary about her grandchildren.  This brought the usual big smile back to Mary’s round face.  The rest of the visit went well and Lizzy was happy that they reconnected.  She promised herself and Mary she wouldn’t be so scarce in the future. 

“I’ve got to get back to work Mary, thank you for your help and the tea,” and with that Lizzy was out the door. 

Karen waited nervously for Lizzy to arrive to begin the house blessing.  She hoped it would work, although she had not felt a presence or noticed anything strange for a week.  Things had been quiet.  She took the children to their father’s house for the night.  Karen jumped when Lizzy knocked on the door.  Lizzy stepped into the living room and gently put her bag on the floor.

“What is all this?” Karen said, pointing to the bag.

“I had to stop and get some stuff for the blessing.”  One by one, she brought out the tools of the trade. 

1 Bible
1 white candle in a tall glass jar
1 bundle of White Sage
1 bottle of Holy Water
1 bottle of Sandalwood Anointing Oil
1 bag of Sea Salt

“Wow,” said Karen, “what do we do with all this?”

“As you know, I’m no expert.  I did some research online and talked to the Minister who taught the Ordination Class.  I think I understand what to do to cleanse, bless and protect the house but you do need to participate.”

“I’m right here, Lizzy,” said Karen. “just tell me what you want me to do.”

“Before we start, we need to talk about what I found out from Mary Johnson today.”

“Mary Johnson?” Karen laughed, “what does that busybody have to do with anything?”

“Hey, don’t act like that.  She was very helpful today.  Sometimes being a busybody and being a friend of a busybody has its advantages.  One advantage being she knows just about everything that’s happened in this town in the last 40 years.  She is a nice woman,” Lizzy said a little disgruntled.

“Ok already, Mary Johnson, Queen of the Universe then!  What did she have to say?” Karen couldn’t stop smirking.

“A teenage girl, Sunday Stewart killed herself in Ben’s house in the 90s. I think she may be the spirit who has been in your house. I don’t know how she got here, but it all just sort of adds up.  She had a little brother, Josh, who found her.” 

“That’s horrible,” said Karen. “I’ve never heard of any of this.” 

“Well,” Lizzy continued, “Mary Johnson had.   Anyway, I think Sunday has been lingering around.  She was a jilted lover and downed a bunch of pills. You know teenage angst.” 

“I think she hitched a ride over here, but why and how?” asked Karen.

“I don’t know,” said Lizzy, “but if she did, we will attempt to usher her out. We need to open the back and front door.  The instructions I read say to start in the living room of the house and begin working clockwise into every room and closet.  You carry the candle and sprinkle holy water around and I’ll deal with burning the sage and putting crosses on the door casings with the oil.  It says to put a cross on every doorway and window casing with the oil, while stating the prayer. I printed a copy for you. I feel kind of bad casting her out though.  I don’t know if maybe we can direct her to the light.  I just don’t know.  I am feeling a little inept.”

If Lizzy was feeling inept, Karen was feeling completely out of her universe.  The two women took a moment to say a prayer at the table and then moved all the gear into the living room.  Lizzy lit the candle and handed it to Karen.  Lighting a small part of the sage bundle, Lizzy let it burn for a minute and then blew it out creating a steady plume of smoke.  She opened the Bible, pushed the small bottle of oil into her pocket and placed her copy of the prayer into the middle of the Bible.  She began to read with a firm loud voice from Ephesians 6:10-17 for protection and blessing. 

Slowly they moved clockwise through the house, and in unison, read the prayer in each room. 

“We consecrate this room in the name of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  As the smoke from this Sage rises so do our prayers to the ear of God. The light of this candle burns away all negative energies or spirits in this home. We command any negative spirit in this room to depart and never return.”

Lizzy added, “If you can hear me Sunday Stewart, look for the light and move toward it.  You have passed and are in limbo. Go toward the light if you can see or sense it.”

Karen sprinkled the holy water as she followed Lizzy.  Lizzy demanded, “We consecrate this room and this house in the name of God the Father, God the Mother, Jesus and in the name of the Holy Spirit, Amen.”

They winded their way through the whole house and ended in the living room where they started and said the following prayer together:

“Lord we commit this house to you today, if any wrongs have been done to bring this upon this house or this family we ask forgiveness.  If any spirit is lost and seeking the light we ask that you and the angels lead the way to peace for these spirits.  We ask you to call angels to guard this house as we now commit it to you Dear Father.  Guard Karen, Brandi and Billy.  Protect those who enter this house.  This family is now consecrated and freely given to you God, and now we put our trust and confidence in you to protect us, in the name of Jesus, Amen.”

Lizzy motioned for Karen to follow her outside.  She then sprinkled salt in front of each door and began walking in a circle clockwise around the property sprinkling the salt in a protective circle. 

The two friends walked with a lighter skip in their feeling something had lifted. 

“Thank you Lizzy.” Karen said as she hugged her friend. 

Lizzy felt the faint buzz pulsing through her body that she always felt after working with energy.  She was feeling very revved up.  Lizzy felt this same vibrational buzz in her Ordination class when learning Reiki.
It must be a good sign that the energy is moving more freely and in a positive way,
she thought.

“Do you think God would mind if we had a glass of wine?” Karen asked sheepishly.

“I don’t think so, let’s have a toast to a blessed house!”

The three weeks that passed since Tina had visited Brandi left her feeling unbalanced.  So many strange things had been going on she thought maybe she was going crazy.  At one point she really had thought she might be certifiable. Fortunately did  find out that  she was not the only one experiencing strange occurrences. 

The wall knocking started the night after she arrived home.  At first, she thought it was Greg. 
Why would he do that?
  She tried to ignore it.  Then she heard Anna moving furniture around at all hours of the night.  This went on for three weeks when finally on Sunday she heard a loud knock on her door.  She opened the door to find Greg standing on the other side.  He had a scowl on his face normally smiling face.  “Hi Greg,” she said, “what’s up?” 

“What’s up with you?” he was obviously annoyed.

Tina stood there for a moment not knowing what to do, and then motioned for Greg to come in.  He had been in her apartment before and made his way to the couch.  She noticed he looked tired. 

“Greg, what is it?”

“Tina, what have you been doing over here?  I’ve heard you knocking on the wall and I don’t know if you and Anna have some kind of furniture moving pact but I can hear you two moving furniture at all hours of the night! If it’s not you, it’s her.  You know, we’ve all gotten on pretty well here together but I’ve got to get some sleep!”

“I am not knocking on the wall and I haven’t moved my furniture around either as you can plainly see!”  Tina felt embarrassed but wasn’t sure why. 

“Tina, I can hear you!  How can you tell me it isn’t you?” 

“Well, it isn’t.  I thought it was you.  I’ve been hearing furniture moving in Anna’s apartment and I’ve heard the wall knocking but I thought it was you.  I didn’t know what to think.”

This answer clearly was not satisfying Greg.  “I’m tired Tina, I haven’t slept in three weeks and I’m just asking you to stop.” 

“It isn’t me, Greg, I swear!”

As the two students sat in silence and pondered the other’s nocturnal behavior, four loud knocks sounded off on the wall between Tina and Greg’s apartments. 

Tina and Greg gasped and stared at the wall.  “Is someone in your apartment Greg?” Tina asked.

He shook his head, leapt to his feet and sprinted out the door to his apartment.  Tina followed him, a little surprised at how quickly such a big guy could move!  Greg’s apartment was a small one bedroom with an open kitchen and living area similar to Tina’s apartment.  He checked the bedroom, looked under the bed and then the bathroom.

“There is no one here,” he said confused. Tina was just about to say they should check with Anna when four loud knocks came through the wall from her apartment. 

Greg’s mouth dropped open.  Tina took a couple steps back.

“What was going on?” Tina yelled.

“I have no idea,” said Greg.

“Maybe we should talk to Anna and see if she has noticed anything,” suggested Tina.

“I’ll see if she’s home,” said Greg. He moved quickly toward the foyer stairs. 

“I’m coming with you,” said Tina realizing she didn’t want to be alone and shadowed him up the stairs to Anna’s apartment.  Both started knocking on Anna’s. Tina pulled her fist away from the door just as Anna opened it.   Anna took a step and was obviously not excited by her visitors.

“Can I help you?” Anna said with a little bit of a growl in her voice.

Tina and Greg seized up.  They stood mouths shut staring at Anna.   Anna stood unmoved at the door and stared back.  Tina finally broke the standoff by blurting out, “have you been moving your furniture around at night?”

“What? Really?  With all the banging around you two have been doing down there you have the nerve to come up here with that?”

“That’s WHY we are here.  Anna, please come downstairs. We have something to talk to you about,” said Tina.

“Why should I?” said Anna. “I don’t know you two and quite honestly I’m a little pissed!” 

“Look Anna,” Tina began to explain, “we’ve all been hearing the same things but none of us are the ones doing it.” 

“What ARE you talking about?” Anna pushed her wire rim glasses back, crossed her arms and took a stern stance with Tina and Greg. Anna’s petite stature seemed bigger in the doorway some how.  Tina took a step back and tried to avoid the glare Anna was sending her.

“Either come down to my apartment or let us in so we can talk to you!” Tina felt her chest begin to tighten as her anxiety grew.  It was clear to her that neither Anna nor Greg had been creating the noise she had been hearing. 

Anna took another look at Greg, who was still silent, but obviously shook up about something.  His eyes were darting back and forth wildly.  “All right, come in. Greg, are you ok?” Anna said letting her guard down a little.

Greg rubbed the side of his face as if he’d just been smacked.

“To be honest, I’m completely freaked out.”

Tina and Greg followed Anna into her apartment.  It was almost twice the size of Greg and Tina’s apartments.  She had a fireplace in her living area and the light streamed in the windows that wrapped completely around living area.  The ceilings were high with an ornate header that went around the room.  It was definitely the nicest of the three apartments.  Putting her envy aside, Tina sat down on the edge of the couch while Greg went to the window and stared out over the back yard. 

“Anna,” Tina started again, “we are all hearing the same thing but none of us are making the noises! Greg was just in my apartment asking me the same thing when we heard three knocks on the wall coming from his apartment.  No one is there.  While we were in his apartment checking to see what it was, three knocks came through the wall from my apartment!  Anna, no one was there, so now we are here.”

“So, what?  Are you implying that we have a ghost?”  Anna said incredulously.

“Basically, yes,” said Tina. 

Greg piped up from the window, “This is crazy!” 

“Well, as crazy as it sounds, I can’t find other way to explain what’s been happening.” 

“What do we do now?” Anna asked. “Does any one want a beer or a glass of wine? 

“Beer,thanks,” Greg said without moving.

Tina felt a twinge of guilt. 
Had whatever had been in my car three weeks ago come into the apartments?
 
Was this my fault?
  She decided not to expand on the story.

“I’ll call my friend. She’s like my second mom and see if she knows what we can do.” 

“I’m not staying here,” Greg said, turning around, his face ash white. 

“Really?” said Tina. “You’re going to leave us here alone?”

“What can I do?” Greg said, trying to make himself feel better about leaving.

“Look, we’re all in this together.  We’re all hearing it and there’s no guarantee that whatever it is won’t follow us,” Tina pointed out.

“Why would you say something like that?” yelled Greg as storm now crossing his face.

“Calm down Greg!” Anna jumped to Tina’s defense.  “Tina is right. We’ve never had trouble before and now we are, so something has changed.”  Anna’s scientific mind was working in high gear now.  None of this made sense. 

Anna kept a cool detached position and appeared to be the most calm of the three. Greg started pacing and seemed seemed like he’d be climbing the walls any minute.  Tina contemplated the situation and held her anxiety in check. 

“We’ve been dealing with this for a few weeks.  It doesn’t appear to be harmful, so let’s check around and see what we can find out about getting this thing out of here.”  Anna spoke authoritatively for such a quiet petite little thing.  They all agreed that as long as nothing harmful occurred they could handle a little noise.  They agreed to stay in Anna’s apartment over the weekend so if something happened they would all be together for validation.  

“I’ve got to grab a few things downstairs,” Greg said.  “I’ll be right back.”

Greg entered his apartment and immediately felt goose bumps run down his neck and arms.  A sweet powdery odor of perfume permeated his apartment; it was distinctly feminine.  Greg backed up against his living room wall and looked around but could see nothing.  He felt a presence, there was no denying it.  
Nope,
he said to himself,
not staying here.
It all happened so fast he surprised himself.  He packed a bag and bolted to his car, saying nothing to his comrades upstairs.  He pointed his car in the direction of his parent’s and sped through the neighborhood.  He had to leave.  He had no choice.  At least, that is what he told himself when the thoughts of acting like a coward lept forward.  His throat felt tight and he was nocuous.  All he knew was that he could not say in the apartment and nobody could tell him differently. 

Karen stood in her kitchen, with the phone frozen in her hand.  Tina was on the other end telling Tina everything that had happened the last three weeks and what they had just discovered today.  Tina couldn’t believe what she was hearing and was not sure how to guide Tina.  

“I’m not sure what you want me to do, Tina,” Karen said.  “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come to the house right now until we get this figured out.  If you were followed by something, I don’t want it to come here. I’m sorry if that sounds selfish but it’s how I feel right now. I have to protect Brandi and Billy.” 

Tina internally reacted, she felt hurt and offended for a moment but also understood. If this spirit latched onto someone else right now she wouldn’t want to have it back either!  Trying to keep herself under some emotional control, Tina attempted to calmly ask what she should do but what came out of her mouth was a loud screech, “What can I do Karen? You can’t leave me out to dry, something happened the night I had dinner with you.  It started happening on my way home! I don’t know what to do.”

Karen felt horrible. She could hear Tina begin to cry on the other end of the line.  Karen knew this was absolutely the last thing Tina needed to be dealing with. It was the last thing anyone should have to deal with. She knew it was her fault Tina was being haunted.

“Try to stay calm Tina.  I’ll call Lizzy and see if she has any ideas. We did a house blessing here yesterday, but I don’t know if it helped.”

“Why did you do a house blessing?” Tina asked confused.

Karen didn’t want to go into it under the circumstances.  It seemed clear to her that whatever it was had hitched a ride with Tina. 
No wonder things have been quiet here for the last three weeks,
Karen thought.

Swallowing her pride Karen decided to relay the whole story to Tina.  “Tina, I’m sorry but she may have hitched a ride to your house.  Since you may have already taken her, it appears that our house blessing may have been for nothing.  Well, not for nothing, the house is now blessed but we had hoped that we helped lead her into the light and apparently that didn’t happen.”

Tina felt relieved even though she was thinking that maybe she should be mad.   Maybe she felt better knowing Karen didn’t think she was crazy.  Getting some validation from Karen had instantly helped her feel stronger. 

“I don’t know what to do, Karen,” Tina said, “I feel helpless.”

“Let me see if I can reach Lizzy.  Maybe we can do a blessing at your apartment.  In the meantime, calm down.  I’m glad you are with Anna and Greg.  I will get ahold of Lizzy and get back to you.” Karen hung up and immediately began texting Lizzy.  

Lizzy had to admit she was proud of her first foray into house cleansing.  Karen had not had any activity since it was done and she was convinced it worked as it should.  Lizzy looked forward to the weekend and was so glad it was Friday.  She shuffled papers around on her desk trying to find something to do, when she was interrupted by a text message from Karen; “911 Spirit Alert! Call me ASAP!” 

“Oh no,” Lizzy sighed. 
What does this mean?
  She gingerly picked up her phone and called Karen. The moment Karen answered Lizzy started in, “What happened? Why the alert? Are you and the kids alright? Have you had more activity?”  

“No,” said Karen, “that’s just the point.  Even before we blessed the house I haven’t had one iota of activity or weird feelings, nothing!  Hold on to your hat though because you won’t believe what Tina just told me.”

“What? What? Tell me!” Lizzy cried into the phone.

“ Tina has been plagued with issues since leaving my house three weeks ago when she stopped in for dinner.  In fact the other residents at her triplex are experiencing something and there have never been any issues up to this point.” 

Lizzy was dumbfounded.  “So, what are you saying?  You think she hitched a ride with Tina to college?” Lizzy said sarcastically. 

“Actually yes, that is exactly what I think! Lizzy, can that happen?  Can a spirit jump from one place or person to the next?”  Karen was intrigued but also scared.  

“I’m not the freaking wizard of Oz you know!” Lizzy said loudly.  All she could think was she had failed. She hadn’t pointed any spirit towards the light.  Apparently there was nothing in Karen’s home by the time they did the blessing. 

  “I don’t know if it’s possible or not.  It seems it might be.  I can do more research I guess.”