1 Revisiting the mansion

There was something with Josh that night. He was uneasy. He called Jan and Fr. Robert who willingly accepted his invitation. Would they care revisit the mansion?

Their powerful trances saw their visions of his mom, Isabella at the mansion, with that savvy, gentle ghost with complete cast, ghoulish characters, and events.

What have they proven?

First, that the footsteps and signs in the garden were real. Second, that the two women who looked like hags and victimized their home-help and the pets were real. Third, that Tatin must be a real person in real life somewhere in the past, or he wouldn't be acting like he owned the house. Fourth, that Isabella must have had her past with this man. Fifth, that the spillover theory was correct.

Finally, that all the strange occurrences in their lives were somehow influenced by their past.

Then, there was his mom, the sleeping beauty who woke up on the third day (she actually got lost) and dad found her in her bed. Chill. He was cool all the time. It was not the first time that it happened. The spillover event proved that they had to be on a certain timeline so that their present predicament could be resolved.

Jan's coil on his head lifted up slowly like that of a magician with a snake on its head. Their visions were the same. They wanted to unravel more.

The next morning the three were on their way to the old mansion.

They reached the place at noontime. The care-taker, an old man around seventies, with an overgrown hair of a woman and an old brown cowboy hat on his head opened up the gate for them. They had to make up an excuse about why they came back. Fr. Robert told the old man that they were only visiting because they happened to be at the town. Good he had an air of authority, perhaps because he was a priest, or they wouldn't be allowed. On the other hand, the old man was kind enough to let them in. But they should only stay for a while, he cautioned, because the owner didn't like strangers ogling the big house yet had no real business at all. By business he meant renting, leasing or buying the property. Josh said they would rent—for a few days. He was happy to know that they would; gave them a gap-toothed grin.

The three entered the house that was once home for the Lee's--Jan and Fr. Robert felt the same as they always hanged around the place. They walked slowly towards the main living room; appreciated the quiet, cozy ambience—the elegant gold wicker sofa, the marbled floor, the crystal vases and mirrors, the chandelier. In the middle of the house was the banquet hall (Chopin's Nocturne at the background) and where the most celebrated of all the ghosts they knew since the famed Casper were seen behind the railing, and since then had walked through and around the house.

They were back, but they did not recognize me.

They were trying to look for a room that they could use; tried opening each knob; found that Josh's old room was unlocked. They entered; opened all the windows. It was a beautiful day.

Overlooking from a window was the caretaker working in the huge garden—a rake in his hands protected with orange gloves. The verdant green hit by a full ninety- degree sunlight made the mansion looked brighter, gleaming in its white color.

The three sat, lotus position, facing each other with a candle in the middle. Five… ten minutes passed… thirty minutes… they were sweating out. Then, Jan jerked. Josh and Fr. Robert opened their eyes. Jan's eyes were half-open.

"Hey!" Fr. Robert gently patted his right shoulder.

Jan was perplexed; he could not talk but his eyes were wide open.