Leaving a fuming Paul in the car with Tom and Jessica for the time being, Sarah and Andrew made their way back up to the house.

Sarah walked, deep in thought. She was not so much worried about the house as she was seething with anger regarding Paul.

Sarah had been pretty freaked out for a while after first meeting Paul. It had, however, not taken her very long at all to realise what an egotistical pain in the arse he was. All of his theatrics and posturing were just that—a front, one big act—all to hide the lonely and scared little man that he really was.

Sarah had quickly found out that the best way to deal with and handle Paul was simple. She never backed down and gave him as good as she got. Paul was a bully, and like most bullies, he crumbled when confronted. Since that first time, Sarah had never taken any crap from Paul again. That was something that had, to her delight, greatly annoyed him. Sarah smiled to herself at the memory.

Just ahead of her, Andrew stopped at the front door and turned back to face Sarah. He reached out with his hands and held her gently by her shoulders.

“Sarah, are you totally sure about this?” Andrew asked, the concern clear in his voice.

“Yeah, I had a good scare, and I’ll be the first to admit I’m more than a little nervous about going back in. But like you guys said to me, there was nothing to back up what I was saying on film. I don’t know, maybe it’s like Paul said and I did imagine it. And if I didn’t imagine it, who the hell is playing with our equipment? Either way, that’s what we’re here for. And I tell you now, Andy, I for one ain’t going anywhere until I get some damn answers.” The old Sarah was back and ready to go.

Andrew smirked at her. “I don’t know, now don’t get me wrong. What you said happened is not only hard to believe, it’s damned near impossible. And with the lack of evidence to back you up, no one will believe a word you say. But if Paul doesn’t believe you and wants to dismiss what you said…well, something ain’t right.

“Your word against his that something is off is more than good enough for me. I mean, I’ve known you long enough and you’re not the kind of person who makes this shit up. I’m not saying that I’m ready to throw in the towel and become a believer just yet, but if you’re game, I’m ready to be convinced, and if you’re game to convince me, let’s do this.”

Andrew pushed the front door open, shining his pencil-thin beam of light from the torch he was carrying on the floor ahead of him and Sarah.

“Well, boss, where to first? You lead the way, I’m right behind you,” Andrew said, extinguishing the light.

Sarah led the way. “Come on. Let’s check out the sitting room first.”

They entered the sitting room. Sarah took the big overstuffed armchair whilst Andrew stretched out comfortably on the sofa.

“Okay, Andy,” Sarah said. Her voice was slightly shaky, nerves from her earlier ordeal. “If you just listen for a while, I’m going to do some EVP work; if you hear any responses or see anything, let me know. Okay?”

“I’m all ears.” Sarah switched on her portable night vision digital camera, adjusting the flip screen so she could see around the room. She got herself comfortable in the chair, took a deep breath and began.

“Is there anyone here in this place with us? Don’t be afraid, we aren’t here to hurt you. We just want to meet you and say hello. My name is Sarah and this is my good friend Andrew.”

“Hello.”

“Are you here watching us? Can you give us a sign? Can you touch one of us or move something?”

Nothing happened, all was quiet.

“Do you want us here? Do you want us to go? If you want us to go then you will have to give us a sign.”

Sarah panned her camera around the room—nothing. She strained her ears— nothing.

Andrew sat up fast. “Did you hear that?”

“What?” Sarah’s nerves flared.

“I thought I heard someone knocking on the wall behind us.” Sarah turned her head and camera in the direction Andrew thought he heard the noise coming from.

Nothing. “Are you sure you heard something? I mean, could it have been outside?”

“Look, Sarah, I know what you went through earlier and you know what I think of this paranormal stuff. There is no way I would make it up so, no. No way would I do that to you. It was definitely inside this room.”

“Okay, cool. Right, let’s try again, I know we have all night but I would love to hear and capture something definite. Was that you? Did you knock on the wall? If you did, thank you. Can you do it again or can you do it closer? Can you knock on this table? Like this.”

Sarah was back in control now, she leaned forwards and knocked gently on the table with her knuckles. Tap…tap.

Nothing.

“Can you copy me?” Tap…tap.

Nothing.

“Sarah, if you don’t mind, can I try something?” Andrew asked.

“Sure, go for it.”

“What’s the matter, you chicken shit or something?” Sarah winced. Andrew continued.

“What’s up, huh? You can scare women and kids when they’re on their own, but you hide when we get here together. I know why you can’t tap or knock, you can’t, can you? You’re weak, ain’t ya? Can’t do shit. You some kind of sick and weak pervert who’s too damn scared to show themsel—”

BANG!

The coffee table visibly moved several inches.

“Holy fucking shit. Did you get that, Sarah?” Andrew shouted.

“No, no, I didn’t. I hope the stationary camera did though. That was amazing. Shit. Oh shit.”

“Yeah, this is awesome. Tell you what, all those stupid shows on television Jess made me sit through, I thought was all bullshit. But this, wow. That table just fucking moved all by itself.”

Andrew swung his legs off and sat up straight on the sofa, fully alert. Listening, watching.

“What the hell, Andy, where the hell did you learn that, I mean what on earth made you think to talk to it like that?”

Andrew shrugged. “Well, if I’m honest with you, it was one of the shows I said about. Don’t get me wrong. Most of them were, are, complete crap and they believed anything and tried to make the viewer believe anything. But there was one, some American show where the teams would go to these places and do everything they could to debunk the haunting claims. And they only admitted to a real haunting when they had conclusive proof.

“Kind of like what you’re trying to do, that was the only one I didn’t mind. Ghost Hunters I think it was called, or something like that. I saw one of them do that once, they gave it some real attitude and made it so angry that they got a response. You gotta admit. It beats the old sitting around a table, moving a glass with your finger and telling the gullible audience it was a ghost moving it. Bollocks. But these guys, I hate to admit it but they were the real deal. And guess what? It just bloody worked.”

Sarah nodded, shaking slightly. It was caused partly through nerves and partly through the excitement.

“Okay, Andy, that was cool. Let me try again.” “It’s all yours.”

“Who are you? Thank you for banging on and moving the table for us. Can you do anything else? Can you make a noise with your voice? Andrew does not really believe you’re here. If you don’t do anything else, he will dismiss what you did. Are you Julia? Are you the woman who killed her sister?”

Ha ha ha ha.

“Fuck me.” Andrew was on his feet. “Tell me you heard that? That was bloody laughter.”

Sarah was grinning from ear to ear. “I did. But, Andy, that didn’t sound like a woman to me. It was too deep. I think it was a man.

“Was that you, Robert Castleleigh? Did you work for the lord? Who are you?”

Sarah continued to scan the camera around the room as both she and Andrew listened intently.

Nothing.

“Enough of this shit. If you’re here then do something else and prove it. Did you die here or did you murder someone here? Is that the best you can do? Pathetic, I’m not impressed at all. All you can do is move a table and laugh, wow. Come on scare us, do something,” Andrew challenged.

Nothing.

They sat still, listening for several minutes before Sarah broke the silence. “I don’t think it’s going to happen again Andrew, come on, let’s get out of here and try upstairs.” Sarah stood up and walked out the door, using the night vision on her camera to see the way.

Andrew followed her out, properly excited for the first time on the investigation, but disappointed that nothing else had happened. He halted behind Sarah at the bottom of the staircase, gently holding her arm.

“What do you think, Sarah, really? Who do you think it was?” he asked uncertainly.

“Honestly, I don’t know, but I’m positive it was a man. That voice, that laughter? It couldn’t have been a woman, it was too deep, wasn’t it?”

“So what, you reckon it’s that lord thingy or the guy that worked for him? Maybe even that Pembleton character?”

“I don’t know, Andrew; I hate to say it, but maybe if Paul was here, he could answer that.”

The sitting room door slammed shut behind them, causing them to physically jump as they spun around towards the noise.

“Shit, Sarah, this is getting real. How the hell did that door shut all on its own? Jesus, it’s been wide open all this time and it chooses this moment to close? I’m meant to be the bloody sceptic here. We’ve been back in here, what? Ten minutes and I’m ready to take it all back, I’m a believer,” he said breathlessly.

“Amazing, isn’t it,” Sarah said. “Who would have thought that we would have so much activity so soon? I’m gonna go get Paul, I think we really do need him if we’re gonna find out just exactly who or what is in here messing with us.”

“Okay, Sarah but watch him, yeah, I don’t trust the guy.”

“Me neither, but this is all happening too damn fast for me. We…I need help.” She started to head for the front door.

“Sarah?” Andrew called quietly after her.

She stopped and looked over her shoulder at him. “Yeah?”

“Don’t be too long, okay.” She smirked to herself. “Don’t you worry, mister non-believer, I won’t leave you alone in this spooky house for long.”

Without another word, Sarah walked to the front door, opened it and stepped outside. The door shut firmly behind her on its own with a slightly nervous Andrew still inside.

You need to get out.

“What the fuck!” Andrew whispered, spinning around.

I do not have much time. You must leave, you are in danger if you stay here.

Andrew turned on the spot several times, searching the darkness for the origin of the voice. His whole body shook and broke out in goosebumps whilst the hairs on his hands, arms and neck stood fully erect.

“Who…who’s there?” Andrew stammered, trying to keep his voice steady.

Nothing.

“Talk to me, dammit, what do you want?” His voice betrayed an equal mixture of nerves and agitation.

I can control William for now, but my power will fade when James returns. Please heed me, you must go. Now.

The voice was flat and held no emotion, yet Andrew sensed the underlying urgency all the same. “We can’t leave,” he tried to explain as if having a normal everyday conversation. “We have to find out what is going on here for the family. They’re terrified and we’re here trying to help them. Who is this, William? Who are you?”

Nothing.

Andrew was on the verge of either bolting for the nearest exit or calling out again when the front door abruptly opened, scaring him half to death as Sarah and Paul entered the hallway.

“Jesus shit, you just scared the crap outta me. You aren’t gonna believe what just happened. Hell, I can hardly believe it myself.”

Sarah touched his shaking arm. “What’s up, Andrew?” Even in the dark, the only illumination coming from the camera, she could see and feel the nervousness radiating outwards from him.

“I think I’m either completely mad or I have developed one hell of an imagination. You won’t believe this, Sarah, but I just had a conversation with a woman.”

Sarah was taken aback, a confession like this from a total sceptic like Andrew was nothing short of amazing. If it had been anyone else, she would have sought proof, but somehow, being Andrew, she believed him. Unfortunately, other people would demand proof and that was, after all, what they were searching for.

“That’s fantastic, Andrew. Did you get it on your recorder?”

“Shit no. I’m sorry, Sarah, I didn’t even think about it. It was just so strange, you know? It was like she was stood right next to me but all around at once as well. Freaky, huh?”

Sarah nodded, more to herself than Andrew. She was trying to watch Paul, as he shined his torch around the hallway as if he were looking for something or someone. He turned back to Andrew. “Did you actually see this alleged person?” he asked abruptly.

“No, like I said it was just this voice. Definitely female though.”

“Curious, this woman obviously has strong energies if she can talk to you. Tell me, what exactly did she say?” Paul asked slowly, his tone clearly showing his interest.

“It was a warning, she said we had to get out because we are in danger.”

“And did this mystery woman happen to actually tell you what the so-called danger we face is? Did she tell you who she is or happen to mention any names? In short, is there anything useful at all you can tell me?”

Andrew was somewhat taken aback by Paul’s indifferent attitude towards his experience. “No, Paul, I have no idea who she is, was, whatever. But she did mention the name William.” Being dark, nobody noticed Paul’s body stiffen slightly at the mention of the name William.

Andrew continued, oblivious.

“She said something about that she was controlling him, but that she wouldn’t be able to when James returned.”

“James? What, not Pembleton?” Sarah gasped, remembering what she had been told and read about, not to mention her possible earlier experience with that evil man.

“I don’t know. I really don’t. She said this and then was gone. That was when you two came back in and scared the shit out of me. What do you make of all this, Paul?” Andrew asked, personal feelings aside in a hope that the man could help him understand what was happening.

“Interesting. This woman seems to think, and in fact told you as much, that William is dangerous. Yet consider this. It is by her own admission, as you said, she who controls him. I must tell you though, and I feel that it is important to mention this to you both, I spoke to a gentleman named William earlier. It was earlier this evening when I was actually permitted to be in the house, when you were setting up the equipment.” The sarcasm almost dripped from Paul’s lips.

He continued, “I can tell you now with utter confidence that he is, in fact, a perfect gentleman. William was an innocent man who was brutally murdered by a woman. Most probably I expect the same one that you now claim to have spoken to, Andrew. I can tell you honestly, you have no more to fear from William than you do from me. No, I suspect it is this woman that you should be wary of. I would say to you, beware the false prophets.”

Sarah was not at all comforted or convinced by Paul’s statement. She seemed to be both confused and angry at his words; if anything, her level of distrust for Paul rose. She shone the camera’s light on Paul.

“What, when? You knew this and didn’t tell us? Damn it, Paul, we’re supposed to be a team. You should have told us all this earlier; we need…we have to know what it is we are up against. That is why you’re here after all. Now, is there anything else you forgot to mention and want to share with us?”

Paul sighed at her dramatics. “No, there is nothing else you need to know. You really must learn to trust me, Sarah. I am not the novice here. Please try to remember that. Now come.” He smiled. “Let us head upstairs and see if we can find Henry.”

If Sarah had a gasket, she would have blown it at that point. She stared daggers at Paul.

“Who the fuck is Henry? Someone else you may have forgotten to tell us about? You want us to trust you, Paul, fine, but it’s a two-way street. Give us a reason why we should,” she shouted at him.

“Please, Sarah, calm down. There really is no need to become quite so hysterical.” He patted the air with the palms of his hands. “I haven’t told you everything for your own good. You are still young and very inexperienced in these sensitive things, that much has been clear to me since our first meeting. Now please calm down for a moment and let me explain to you what I know about Henry.”

Sarah could not help but want to shout and call Paul an egotistical, chauvinistic, condescending, pretentious prick. She decided to hold her tongue though, deciding a full-blown argument could wait until later when this was over. Andrew however could not help himself, self-restraint had never been his strongest suit.

“Paul, do you have to be such a first-class twat? Now stop being such a wanker, say what you got to say or get the fuck out. You talk to Sarah like that again and you’ll be on your arse.” Paul for his part completely ignored Andrew’s outburst and continued talking.

“Henry is a deeply evil man, when he was alive, he brutally and without any hint of mercy killed his master and his master’s young daughter too. He is the one we must be wary, very wary of. The others here in this place refer to him as the Splitting Man. And he, I cannot stress this point enough to you, he is very dangerous.”

Andrew was not convinced, but held his tongue this time. It was, after all, him and Jessica who had done the research on the whole area. The woman that he had spoken to had seemed totally on the level to him, and if William was indeed the innocent that Paul made him out to be, then why would he and James Pembleton be together?

If the James that the woman referred to really was James Pembleton…no, something was not right. Neither Andrew or Jessica had found any reference to any other man named James during their research. Paul was lying to them for some reason. Andrew was convinced of it. He could not prove anything yet so kept his thoughts to himself, for now. But he would be watching Paul very closely from now on.

Paul shone his torch one last time down at the sitting room door and smiled. Andrew and Sarah never noticed his smile, which was just as well. He would have hated to have to explain why he was so happy to see James Pembleton holding a struggling Julia down on the floor by her throat. Looking above him at the stairs once more, Paul started to climb as he followed a beckoning William. Sarah and Andrew followed, oblivious to the evil presences mounting all around them.