Chapter 2: A Familar Home

Carol tapped her foot impatiently while she waited for her train to arrive.

At her feet were two suitcases and an overnight bag. She had a map opened in her hands and was trying to locate a small town called Evergreen on it.

"There it is. A tiny speck in the middle of nowhere," she mumbled to herself.

She lowered the map and peered down the tracks. The train was already fifteen minutes late and was still not in sight

From somewhere a baby started crying causing Carol to glanced over her shoulder at the station. Other than the few people aimlessly wandering as they wait, the station was pretty much deserted.

"Did you find it?" May asked setting her own suitcase by Carol's.

Carol held the map out to her cousin. "Take a look."

May took the map and ran her finger down it.

"It's under the river, see? It's called Evergreens," Carol told her.

"Just Evergreen," a third girl corrected them. "No 's'. It's named after the pine trees that surround the town."

She handed May and Carol each a Snicker bar that she had bought from the vending machine.

"Thanks, Julie," Carol said as she peeled off the wrapper from her candy bar.

She took a bite of it when she found the town again on the map. A little red dot with Evergreen spelled underneath it in black lettering.

"There it is," she pointed to the dot for May.

"It's turning into quite the tourist hot spot," Julie told them as the cousins read the names of the other towns around the red dot.

Evergreen was close to the ocean separated from the water by large expanse of pine trees. A river cut through the forest and connected with the ocean.

Carol smiled when she realized it looked like a purse with the river being the handle and the ocean the bag.

"It's in the middle of nowhere," May observed, voicing Carol's earlier words.

"Well, it is but like I said, it is quickly becoming popular after my aunt published her book," Julie said proudly.

"What makes it so 'hot'?" Carol asked. "It says underneath it that it only has a population of fifteen thousand."

"It was five thousand two months ago," Julie pointed out.

Carol shrugged and took out her cell phone. The panda bear phone charm hanging from it, swung back and forth.

"We have been here for half an hour, maybe we should just start walking-oh here comes the train," Carol said excited as the conductor pulled the whistle.

The baby wailed again as the train pulled to a squealing stop.

The girls quickly stepped back as a cloud of smoke emitted from the train's chimney and engulfed them.

Coughing, Carol covered her mouth with her hand so not to breathe in the smoke.

Only a few passengers stepped off the train and the girls were the only ones to get on.

Carol struggled with her suitcases down the narrow corridor until she found an empty booth for her to squeeze into. She tried to put her suitcases into the rack above the seats, but it was too heavy.

"I'm not going to sit under that," May told her shaking her head.

Sighing, Carol pushed the suitcase under the seat instead. It did not go all the way, but she used the end poking out as a footstool.

May sat down next to her but kept her only bag in her lap.

As the train slowly begin to chug forward, the whistle blew to announce its departure.

Carol re-opened the map again and turn it over to the world view. Red x's dotted across the seven continents.

With a happily smile, she eagerly looked from one x to the next, mapping out their travel path. First, a trip through Europe including Paris and London then to the states starting at New York. That was where May was going to leave them to go back to college, but Julie's older sister Lizzy was going to join them at their final stop. Maui!

Carol was not sure how long they were going to stay there. Julie owned a summer house near the beach and there was no hurry to leave.

She folded the map and set it down on the seat between her and May.

After putting up her own three bags, Julie had immediately taken out her book and begin reading. She held a yellow highlighter in her hand and was occasionally was making marks across the pages.

Carol leaned forward to read the title, but Julie's hand covered most of it.

"Is that your aunt's book?" she asked.

"It is," Julie said closing the book. "She spent almost three years researching Evergreen and all of its gruesome deaths."

Julie shudder, "I don't know how she did it. I mean, she did say this book was more of a hobby but-I don't know-I-I couldn't do it. I don't know how she slept. I wouldn't be able to sleep. Though I do enjoy reading the book."

"I enjoyed it as well, but you are right. You have to have a strong stomach to read it," Carol agreed "I was just surprise by how much death one little town could have."

"Death, haunting, sickness, curses, witches, and even the natural elements taking a whack at it," Julie chortle.

"I never did finish it," Carol admitted. "I only made it through a few chapters."

"Did you get to the story of Caroline and Hunter? It's one of my favorites."

"I didn't get that far. I had a term paper to study for."

"You should read it, it is good. And Lizzy illustrated it!"

May had been listening to the conversation with only mild interested and finally took her own book and headphone out of her bag.

Carol glanced at the title of May's book. The Art of Witchery: 100 Spells and Potions to Cast or Brew. She was not surprised to see the book. Her cousin had taken an interest in witchcraft several years back. There was a brief time when she had joined a cult, but she had found it disappointing. Something about it not being serious enough about the craft.

Julie set her book down and pulled out her phone. Carol stared out the window, watching the scenery speed by the window when Julie's phone buzzed.

"That's a bummer," Julie said after she read the text.

"What?" Carol asked.

"Teddy sent me a text saying Lizzy is going back home," Julie told her. "Something about the house being too 'creepy' for her."

"Was she seeing ghosts?" Carol only half joked.

"Don't know," Julie said taking it seriously. "I don't think so. My aunt had a priest bless the house before she moved into it."

"Uh-huh," Carol said slowly then sent her own text to Lizzy to see if she was alright.

She put her phone back into her pocket and looked out the window while she waited for Lizzy's reply

They were going through a city now, but Carol only saw a few buildings pass by before they were back into the forest.

The train squeal to a stop as it pulled into a station.

"Is this our stop?" Carol asked.

"No, it is the next one," Julie told her.

The doors slid open to let the passengers off and the new ones on. There was a moment of mad rush as the two met.

The doors were only open for fifteen minutes before they were closed again, and the train moved on.

Carol watched with interest as the newcomer's searched for empty seats. An elderly woman carrying two oversize bags caught her attention. In one of her bags was a growling Yorkshire. The woman paused outside their booth seeing the empty seat next to Julie. She slid open the door and walked in. The dog's beady eyes looked from one girl to the next. May made a face at the dog over the cover of her book and Carol tried not to laugh.

The woman set the Yorkshire down next to Julie as she sat down in the empty seat. The other bag she placed by her feet, blocking the door.

Julie was unaware of the snarling dog whose mouth was just an inch away from her elbow. Her fingers danced over the screen of her phone as she sent text after text to both Lizzy and her brother, Teddy.

Settling in, the woman took out her knitting needles and the girls soon heard a staccato of clicking.

Curiosity getting the better of her as Carol tried to steal a glance at what the new passenger was creating. It looked like a sweater but why did it have six arm holes?

The woman kept glancing up at May between stitches. She expressed visible disapproval at May's skintight jeans and sleeveless top that had the words the black cat of the night.

By now, Carol was used to the amount of attention May brought on herself by her appearance. Her cousin had changed a lot over the last five years. Dying her natural blond hair to black with red streaks through it while also wearing a massive amount of black eyeliner that made her eyes look like they were lost in a fog of blackness were just a couple of these changes.

May rubbed the back of her neck, uncomfortable by the stares. She looked up sharply at the woman making it clear that she did not like being gawked at and the woman quickly turned her attention back to her knitting.

Julie's phone buzzed as she received another text.

"Oh, look at this," she said excitedly as she leaned forward to show them the picture that had been sent to her.

May lowered her book as Carol took the phone. It was a picture of a four maybe five stories tall house with numerous, narrow, rectangular windows.

Dogwood trees lined the driveway that led to the front door and two roman columns that held up the low roof.

"That is gorgeous," Carol said giving Julie her phone back.

"I know! I'm so lucky my aunt left it to me in her will," Julie said happily. "It has been so much fun converting it into a hotel! I know it is going to become one of those famous hotels where celebrities stay or where a notorious murder happens at."

Julie was bobbing up and down excitedly as she spoke but then froze in mid-bounce. "Though it- already has plenty of those."

"Of what?" Carol asked confused.

"Murders," Julie said offhanded.

Once again, the woman's bushy eyebrows raised, and Carol had to agree with her.

"How many?" was all she could think of to say.

"I don't know," Julie shrugged and yawned. "I'm tired. I hardly got any sleep last night. Too excited."

May leaned closer to Carol and whispered, "I think she's kidding about the murders. There are a few of them written in her aunt's book but they sounded too weird to be real."

Carol was starting to wish she had read more of the book.

"When will the renovations going to be done?" she asked.

"Teddy says he needs about four more months. Enough time for me to enjoy our vacation," Julie said pumping her arms in the air excited. "Just a quick stop at Evergreen so I can sign a few papers, buy a couple permits, and then we can start -oh I forgot. Still have to hire someone to put up those support beams in the catacombs."

"Catacombs?" Carol repeated surprised.

"Oh yeah, there is a bunch of tunnels under the house that goes all the way to the forest. I actually found a tunnel that went all the way to Evergreen, but it caved in the other week."

Julie received another text from her brother updating her on the progress of the house. She quickly responded and then told Carol still very excited, "we are trying to add a few 'spooky' effects as well. Give it that haunted feel."

"What kind of effects?" Carol asked.

"You are making a haunted theme hotel?" May asked pausing her music.

Julie nodded still bobbing a little, "it was Lizzy idea. To capitalize on the horror reputation the house already has."

"What kind of effects?" Carol asked again.

"Video mirrors, a fog machine. Lizzy had hidden speakers install in the hallways and in a few of the rooms that will play ghost sounds. I do not know what she recorded. She was going to show me when we arrive, but I guess she is not now."

Julie glanced at her phone worried and sighed. "Oh! We also hired some part time actors to dress up as a few of the ghosts. I cannot wait for it to be all finish! It going to be amazing! Teddy and Lizzy have been working so hard on it. I wanted to help more but school and being in the states kept me from doing much. I guess with Lizzy gone now Teddy is going to need me to help more. Which I am totally fine with! I would love to be able to work on it-"

The ding of another text message cut off Julie endless rambling, saving both Carol and May.

May quickly played her music again and went back to her book. Carol stiffened another yawn. When was the last time she had a decent night sleep?

She rested her head against the window, watching the trees fly by. Closing her eyes, she started to drift off when she remembered the last time had been the night before her heart attack.

She cringed inwardly as she remembered the pain she had felt in her chest. The sudden weakness followed by such a dizzy spell that made her lose her balances.

Carol opened her eyes and stared at her reflection in the window. Her amber brown hair had fallen across her face. Soft green eyes looked through the strands of hair at her reflection. When she was this close to a mirrored surface, she could almost make out the faded trail of freckles that had ran across her face. It had been such a relief when they had faded out of sight.

Carol turned away from her reflection and tried again to fall asleep. For three straight nights she had been having the same dream.

It would start out with her riding a chestnut brown horse through a blur of green trees. The wind blowing through her hair and the horse's mane. The horse kicking up tiny rocks and dirt as it trotted down the ill kept path.

She was forced to look down at the ground because the sun was setting in front of her, blinding her with bright orange light.

She closed her eyes enjoying the peace when she heard something running up behind her.

It was not the pounding sound humans made as they ran in their shoes but the soft padded footsteps of animals.

She turned in her saddle causing her hair to blow into her face.

Quickly pulling it out of her face she saw a pack of vicious-looking wolves chasing after her.

Drool dripping off their fang-like teeth, their fur standing straight up.

Fear sliced through her, nearly making her heart stop but instead forced her to awake from the dream with a start.

Carol sat up straight, looking around confused for a moment. Where were the trees and the wolves?

The Yorkshire let out a sharp bark that made Julie look down at the dog surprised.

"Are you okay?" May asked.

Carol took a deep breath realizing where she was. "I'm fine. Just a nightmare."

The train whistled loudly as it finally pulled into Evergreen's station.

"That was a short trip," May commented getting up.

She had to sit right back down as the woman stood and picked up her growling pet. The girls had to wait for her to leave first before they could stand up again and grab their own luggage.

"Teddy sent me a text saying he is going to be late picking us up," Julie told them. "He got caught up in his writing again. Did you know he was attacked by a wolf the other day?"

"What?" Carol cried flashing back to her dream.

"There was a bunch of wolves that have been hanging around the house," Julie told them while helping Carol pull her luggage out from under the seat. "We had to call animal control to get rid of them but there was this one white wolf that wouldn't leave. It nearly took Teddy's arm off. He and one of the workers had to chase it off with a couple of rifles."

"Did they kill it?" Carol asked as they got off the train.

"No, they shot in the air to scare it off."

"A white wolf?" May repeated. "Why would there be a white wolf living in the forest?"

"I don't know," Julie shrugged.

Carol had been looking around at the station as they talked. It was packed with tourist with their cameras dangling from their neck. Many had maps or brochures opened in their hands, searching for their hotel or landmarks they wanted to see.

Carol saw a stand nearby with free brochures next to the bottles of water. After purchasing a bottle, she took one of the brochures and opened it. The first page was a flashy introduction to the town's history.

Evergreen started out as a small community of farmers that gradually grew to a thriving town. The motto of the townsfolk was 'live in peace and enjoy a good beer.'

Besides being known for the pine forest that surrounded it, Evergreen was also known for its fine production of beer that it produced. But today it is not its fine beer that put Evergreen on the map but it's long and bloody history of murders, deaths, and general strangeness that eventually led to its downfall.

Take the tour! Visit the homes and the workplaces of where the gruesome and yet mysterious murders were committed that gave the inspired to the late Mrs. Patulip all-time best seller, Twenty Ghosts Stories and Six Curses.

See the baker shop where twelve people were found dead by unknown means. Then move on to the blacksmith where the owner went mad one night and slaughtered his whole family. Then used their blood to make a sword that he used to kill six more people including the baker Thomas.

Head over to the mill to sample the original famous Evergreen beer and learn of the seven works that vanished from the mill one lone night. Then onwards to see the rest of the town, restored to how it was over two hundred years ago. Relive the horrors that Mrs. Patulip documented in her book.

But if you are of the weak heart then enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Evergreen's pine forest! But make sure your path does not take you to the forgotten church where a demon cult carried out its dark rituals!

Stay at Mrs. Patulip's own home, now converted into a hotel for your stay. Learn of its equally gruesome history where every owner that dared to live there has died in one horrible way or another.

There was smaller message at the bottom saying that Julie's hotel would not be opened until forth notices.

Carol re-read the sentence about how every owner had died. Smiling slightly, she figured it was Julie's idea to put that there to generate more publicity.

The rest of the pamphlet was pictures of different buildings and places to see. Carol paused on the picture of the blacksmith's shop then turned the page to another picture of a house on a small hill. It freshly painted white with a paved walk that led up to the front porch.

The home of the Dunches' family. OPEN for the first time!

Hours 7-9. Take the tour to see how a family in the seventeenth century lived!

Carol's eyes roamed over the pictures of the different rooms of the house.

"It looks-familiar," she thought to herself confused.

Tracing one of the windows with her finger she tried to figure out why.

"Carol?" May called, making her looked up startled.

"What?"

"Were you not listening?" May asked annoyed. "Julie wants to go see the Dunches' house while we wait for Teddy."

"Um, sure" she said glancing back at the brochure. "Could be fun."

"Then let us go," Julie said eagerly.

Carol picked up her suitcase and followed them to the curb. Several taxis were parked close by but were filling up fast.

"Look, they have a blacksmith shop," May said pointing across the street at the building with a painted sign of an anvil and hammer hanging above the door.

Beyond the building they could see the tall pine trees which gave the town its name.

Carol opened the door of one of the taxis and got in but then realized that May was not following. She was looking down the street with her mouth open in surprise.

"May, are you coming?" Carol asked while Julie told the driver where to go.

"No, I'll catch up with you later," May said closing the door and walking away.

Carol twisted in her seat to watch her cousin out the back window.

"Where is she going?" she wondered out loud.

The taxi pulled out into traffic which seemed to be moving very slowly.

As they moved down the street at a snail's pace, Carol took the opportunity to look more at the town. It looked nice enough except everywhere they were advertising about how many people either died or disappeared in the last three hundred years.

"We should take some of the tours before we leave," Carol told Julie.

Julie was texting with her brother again but quickly agreed.

The taxi pulled in front of the Dunches' house and Julie told the driver to wait for them as they got out.

"I've been wanting to see this place for a while," she told Carol.

Carol was not impressed by the house but kept her opinions to herself.

"Do we just go in?" Carol asked reaching for the doorknob. The cold brass chill her hand but felt familiar. A calm sense wrapped over her. She felt like she had come home after being gone for a long time.

Carol turned the knob and pushed open the door. There was a small hallway that led into the house with a few hooks on the wall to hang your coat or hat on.

"I wonder if we are allowed to go in?" Julie said stepping into the hallway. "I don't see anyone we have to pay."

Carol followed her over the threshold. At once the homey feeling vanished replaced by an overwhelming sense of dread.

This was not a welcoming home. This was a house of death.