The Grey Girl, The Van Tassel Murders

Chloe pondered the five-pointed star, tracing one of the weird symbols with her finger. From somewhere deep in the old furniture and crates just outside the weak candlelight, she heard a noise. Standing, she was aware that something was moving and scratching. A smile crept across her face as she sighed in relief. Finally, there was something else in the house other than the dead. Mice and rats never bothered her. In fact they had always been a comfort to her loneliness over the years.

However, what emerged this time caused Chloe to squeak with shock. A large, long-haired cat hopped on top of the closest crate. Chloe had never seen anything like it before. Its eyes were ice blue while its coat seemed to flow in a constant light breeze. The shock wore off enough for her to speak. “You’re the first ghost cat I have ever encountered.”

As she reached for the animal, it nuzzled at her hand. The thick fur was incredibly soft and the low, rumbling purr filled Chloe with hope. The cat walked over to a battered suitcase and began to paw at it. Chloe watched in confusion. It pawed and looked up, then pawed again. Chloe opened the case. It held old clothes and some toiletries from years gone by. She looked at the cat and it returned the look. She turned the case to show the contents. A quiet meow indicated the cat’s disappointment.

“Well, I’m sorry,” Chloe grumbled as the cat meowed again. Somewhere above them something crashed, sending dust cascading from the ceiling. It was nothing compared to the dust explosion caused by the avalanche of falling detritus as the stack of crates next to Chloe crashed to the floor, knocked over by a poorly lodged boat paddle. The cat shot away as more items scattered.

Chloe calmed her nerves and focused her energy. She forced the dust to settle and kept any more boxes from falling. As soon as she had the room calm again, the cat lightly landed on a crate next to her. It cocked its head as if to say, “Nicely done.” Moments later it meowed. Its blue eyes flashed as it jumped down and trotted for the stairs. It looked back as if to say, “Come on.”

Chloe shrugged and followed. “Are you sure it’s safe?” she asked. She paused and looked around. “What was that sound?”

The cat meowed at her questions, then sat to lick its front paw. It meowed again as it moved toward the stairs.

“I have to tell you,” Chloe said as the cat bounded up the stairs. “I’m getting a little tired of being led around this house,”

The cat was now meandering through the main hall. It stopped, stretched, and looked back at Chloe.

“Yes, I’m still here.” She shook her head. “This is why I prefer dogs,” she muttered.

The cat glared for an instant then, tail held straight, it moved with annoyance in its step toward the main stairs, where it stopped. As Chloe arrived, the cat turned to head back to the rear of the house and the kitchen. Chloe’s frown followed the swishing tail. Slipping around various kitchen items and prep space, the cat paused at door. Its eyes flashed again.

Chloe nodded and followed. Disappearing through the closed door, she rolled her shoulders. “Could be a trap, you know,” she muttered. The familiar resistance forced a grimace. She was through the obstacle and floating up the back stairs to the servants’ rooms. Waiting at the top of the stairs, cleaning a transparent paw, sat the cat. “What? Am I boring you?” Chloe asked, hands on her hips, brows knitted in annoyance.

The cat paused its bathing, cocked its head, then turned around to trot farther down the hall. Reaching a door that still held an ancient tarnished key in the lock, it barely paused before disappearing through the wood.

“I’ve come this far.” Chloe shrugged, lowered her head and took a determined step toward the door. The next thing she felt was pain radiating from the top of her head. That in itself was strange, as she was a ghost and shouldn’t be able to feel physical pain. The next unusual circumstance occurred as she reached up to rub where a lump would have formed if that were possible. Her hand collided painfully with the door. Taking a step back, she closed her eyes to the two battling areas of pain on her body. Reaching out with her uninjured hand, she felt the solid wood of the door. “What the hell?” she swore, immediately covering her mouth, embarrassed. Shaking the feeling away, she frowned at herself. “Women today are not as repressed.”

Having chastised herself, she continued to push and puzzle at the door. An annoyed merow called from somewhere near her feet. Halfway through the door, the cat glared up at her. Chloe returned the glare. “What? I don’t seem to be able to pass through.” If a cat could sigh, this one did. Its eyes moved from Chloe to the lock then back again. “I am really starting to dislike cats,” Chloe muttered in response.

Inhaling and concentrating, Chloe let her eyes close. She concentrated on feeling her hand. Her fingers touched the rough metal of the key. Closing a thumb and two fingers, she envisioned rotating her hand. A click of metal followed by a creaking indicated success. Slowly, Chloe opened her eyes. Still focusing on her hand, she pushed the door open. Dust lay heavy over everything. A small bed was pushed against the wall, dim light filtered through the filthy, tiny window and through an apparition. The cat was now curling around another ghost’s legs.

“It has been many years since you have come to mock me,” a voice as cold as winter spoke. Chloe stood in shock. “Become bored with tormenting my poor Henry?”

“Um,” Chloe began. “Sorry.” She cringed as she spoke. “My name is Chloe Miller. Um, whom might you be?”

Stiffly turning from the window, as if expecting disappointment, a female apparition faced Chloe. It was a pretty face, yet concern and sadness were etched across the features. She looked like a statue left in the elements and neglected for too long. The change was slow as it cascaded down her visage: resolution turned to fear turned to confusion. Quick as lightning, the cat sprang from behind the woman, onto the bed, and into Chloe’s arms. Tears ran in rivulets over marble-white cheeks, “Please,” a woman pleaded, hands outstretched. “Please don’t hurt Nathaniel.”

Surprised, Chloe looked down at the cat in her arms as she stroked his soft fur. “He has been a bit of a pain, and I’m not really a cat person.” A smile crept over her face in spite of her statement. “But you really are a sweetheart, aren’t you?” She rubbed her face against the cat’s. Nathaniel purred happily at her touch. “Besides, I would never hurt an animal.” Chloe and Nathaniel looked questioningly at the other ghost in the room.

The confusion was back on the woman’s face. “Who are you?” she asked.

Adjusting her hold on the cat, Chloe extended her hand. “Chloe Miller. I would say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but …” She shrugged, balancing Nathanial.

The woman approached, timidly extending her own hand. “Amelia Van Tassel.” She shook Chloe’s hand and made a slight curtsey. Her grasp tightened. Amelia moved closer, holding Chloe’s hand up to her face. “I can … I can feel you.” She dropped the hand as if burned. Nathaniel jumped from Chloe’s arms. Amelia’s eyes were huge as she stumbled back, fear emanating from her body. “I, I don’t understand,” she stuttered. “What are you?”

“You know how many times I’ve been asked that this week?” Chloe tried to smile reassuringly but Amelia only backed farther away. Chloe frowned. Rubbing her hands together, she took a step toward the cowering woman, holding her hands up in a show of nonaggression.

She halted and took a step back when Amelia emitted a squeak of fear. Amelia’s arms came up and she held herself tightly. She continued to hug herself as she leaned heavily against the wall.

“I’m sorry.” Chloe rubbed at her face. “It will be hard to explain.” She looked at the door. “Can we leave this room? It’s just that it feels …” She cast her glance around, trying to find the words.

“Like despair,” Amelia finished for her. Her eyes were on the open door. “I haven’t left this room since …” Her gaze looked into the past. “I don’t know. I was in Salem.” Her gaze was back on Chloe. “Then I was here.” She looked down at herself. “But I’m not here. I’m a memory, a spirit. She took my body, she took my husband.”

With each statement Chloe backed closer to the door.

Anger began to seep into the room. The familiar, oily blackness poured through the walls, the floor, even dripped down from the ceiling. “Then she gave birth to that devil.” Amelia’s eyes pierced the gathering gloom. “She used me to create that evil.” The face had gone slack, seeming to melt like a candle into a mask of hate. “She kept me locked up here.” Amelia’s voice became hoarse. “She loved telling me how she used Henry. The things they would do.” The more she spoke the more her voice sounded like gravel being crushed. “I was thrilled when he killed her.”

Chloe backed farther from her.

Amelia’s eyes, tinged in red, burned. “Oh, but even in death they couldn’t leave me alone. No, that thing would come to taunt me.” Amelia’s dress looked tattered and fluttered like a flag in a high wind. “But I shall have my vengeance.”

The shrill cry of the wraith that had been Amelia was met with a hiss of fear from Nathaniel. Chloe fell backward, out into the hallway. The cat flew past, disappearing down the stairs.

“I will rip her soul to …” The fearful specter, wreathed in fire, floated out to tower over Chloe.

Throwing her arms over her face, Chloe tried to inch farther away. Suddenly, the heat faded from the back of her arms and she hazarded a peek through her fingers.

Amelia was looking down at her. Her surprise was the only emotion she showed. “I’m … I’m free.” She reached out to Chloe, who recoiled. The hand remained, waiting. Cautiously, Chloe took it and she was pulled to her feet and into an embrace. “You freed me,” Amelia wept. “I still don’t understand who you are, but I don’t care. You freed me.” She began to go limp, and Chloe gently sank to the floor, still embracing the other woman.

Nathanial poked his head around the corner and cautiously approached them. Amelia gave a watery laugh as she stroked his head. “We’re free. Finally free.”