Haunted Mansion

[Imoen]

Samantha Yarrow

The flight was tiring, and Peter was taking full advantage of the comfortable backseat of the limousine. The steady, gentle rise and fall of his chest gave proof to the fact that he was deeply asleep. She reached over and lovingly pushed a wayward lock of blonde hair back from his forehead. She smiled fondly as he shifted slightly at her touch, his head turning and resting gently on her shoulder.

Samantha had slept most of the way on the plane and was quite refreshed now, enjoying the beautiful scenery that upstate New York had to offer. Her eyes widened considerably as they approached the Hallingsworth Mansion. Why it was magnificent! This was supposed to be a haunted house? Please. She scoffed to herself. It was nothing as she had expected. She had expected some dilapidated, neglected house, not a dream home!

“I’ve lived in Hollywood too long I suppose, too many movies.” She laughed softly.

“Darling...” She nudged Peter’s shoulder gently to attempt to rouse him. “Wake up sleeping beauty.” She grinned as she leaned down and brushed her lips across his in a sweet caress. “We’re here, sweetheart. Your ‘haunted house’ awaits.”


OOC: Samantha Yarrow, 28 years of age. Tall, slim, attractive. Long thick mane of lustrous auburn hair, dark obsidian eyes. She is a complete and utter skeptic, here mainly to accompany her husband on yet another one of his little jaunts into the *rolling her eyes* supernatural.

 

[Dea Artia]

Sadira Bowen

Turning into the drive, Sadira tried to take everything in at once. The house itself was enormous, and the grounds
were well kept. Obviously the owners cared about image.

Her car pulled up behind another car and the driver got out and retreived her bags. Getting out of the car, she could see a woman trying to wake up a man sleeping inside. She thought about trying to offer some help, but the driver had already started up the steps to the door and she decided she had better follow him. When they reached the front door, she was greated by a tall, thin greyish looking man who waved them in. She called out a thank you to the driver as he disapeared into the house.

"Ms. Bowen. Welcome. If you would please follow me I'll show you to the library and you can meet the others who have arrived."

Sadira followed the man through a huge foyer, past a magnificent stairwell and into a room filled with books from floor to ceiling. He made a gesture to enter the room, offered her a drink and bid farewell when she politely declined. As Sadira stood in the entry way, she noticed an assortment of people in the room, some talking others watching. She noticed a very beautiful woman sitting in a chair with a man standing beside her, a camera hanging around his neck. A woman dressed casually in business attire was introducing herself to them. She saw another woman and two men quietly talking.

Sadira wasn't sure whether she should introduce herself or just sit quietly off by herself. She still didn't even know why she had been invited to come to the house. Everyone here was so well dressed, and quite a deal older than herself, with the exception of the young woman and the photographer. It almost seemed like a meeting of some sort than a gathering of strangers. Sadira was about to walk into the room and sit down when the front door opened and the woman and man from outside came into the house.

 

[Isolde]

Lorna

The 'select few' as I assumed they were began arriving before Garret could even return with my drink. Some seemed to know each other and others were as lost as I was. I did recognize some of them from TV and lectures that I had gone to but I had never really talked to them.

Standing from where I had been sitting on one of the couches, I smoothed down my simple blue sleeveless dress and introduced myself,"Lorna Barrington," I said choosing not to use my pen name until I knew exactly what was going on,"And I have no idea why we are here. I am sure that, given the effecency of Garret however, that we shall soon be informed of the reason."

 

[BadForm]

Tatunka

Tat turned to smile, a little mirthlessly, at Lorna. "Given the efficiency of Garret, I agree that we will definitely be hearing something soon. As to finding out what is actually going on, that may be a different matter."

He paused, and his smile softened somewhat. "But you are right, of course. There is little we can do now but wait. Forgive me for being so rude and not introducing myself."

He reached out to take Lorna's handand shook it gently. "Tat Wallace, of the Wallace Advertising Agency. Pleased to meet you."

 

[Isolde]

Lorna

I smiled and took the proffered hand. "Lorna Barrington, humble author and just as confused as anyone about our purpose here. Something about this place being haunted."

Nodding my head toward the bookshelf I said,"And with the selection of books available I would guess that some of it might just be imagination." I didnt say anything about believing that all of it was imagination or some natural cause. I had heard his comments to one of the other women and it seemed to me that he believed in this spirit thing. I wasnt about to step on anyone's toes on the subject yet. It wasnt a good idea to alienate those around you within the first five minutes of meeting them.

 

[Neale]

Peter Yarrow

"Mmmm... hiya, sweetheart. Was I out long?" I stretch inside the limo, reaching out to my lovely lady, and pull her hand to my lips, kissing it gently.

"Oh, we're here? Wow. That's a haunted house? Wonder who's haunting it? JP Getty? One of the Rockefellers? Talk about your conspicuous consumption!"

Looking to his wife, he continues in dreamy voice "Sam, honey, think of what must have prompted these people to call in a psychic of my reputation! This could be amazing!"

"Hmmm... wish we could have gotten FOX to send a film crew in for this weekend! Imagine the ratings I could have gotten!"

I grin at Sam as the limo comes to a stop. We step out, and are greeted by a tall, thin man, a butler straight out of the movies! "Good afternoon, Mr. & Mrs. Yarrow, and welcome. My name is Garrett and I will be seeing that your stay here is a pleasant one."

 

[Isolde]

OOC: I am going to go out tonight. If Kalann, who is the last of the people on the thread, has not posted by the time I get back I will move the story along anyway.

 

[Isolde]

Lorna

OOC: Okay I am going to make this history sound logical. I apologize in advance to any history buffs that I offend as it is not my strong suit. If any of you find any glaring historical blunders let me know through email and I will edit.

IC: At that point Garret came back in and cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Ladies and Gentlemen," He said in that ringing baratone of his,"If I could have your attention, I would be happy to explain why you have been asked here this evening."

As everyone settled down, some taking seats and others standing quietly, his stern gaze swept over the group as he begin to speak.

"As some of you may know this is the house of Joseph and Shelia Hallingsworth. This house that you are in now was built by some of the earliest settlers to New York. I am not getting into a history lesson at this point and I only mention it because it pertains to the 'hauntings' that surround this structure."

The Hallingsworth family were some of the first to take up the fight against the British and the cause of America's independance. Though they worked in secret to try to unseat the British from the American colonies, many suspected where their sympathies lay. A plot was concocted to reveal this fact and a lady by the name of Sara was introduced to one of the young Hallingsworth boys, supposidly as the daughter of a new neighbor but really as a spy for the redcoats. The young man fell for her as planned and she begin to try and undermine the American's efforts as well as the Hallingsworth."

He looked around to see if he still had the attention of everyone in the room. Satisfied that he did, he went on. "Her treachery was found out but not before the young man had fallen completely in love with her. The knowledge was too much for him and he commited suicide in this very house, leaving a lengthy note for his father explaining why he felt he must end his life."

"Thus began a chain of events that lead to the unfortunate status of this house. The father, enraged at his son's death and the betrayal of the girl, set out to hunt her down and exact revenge. Sara, not knowing of the young man's death was even then on her way to meet her lover and was coming up the garden path. They would usually meet in the sheltered alcove there. The father was waiting for her as his son had talked, as all men in love will, of his nightly meetings with the girl. When she reached the alcove, the father stood up and grabbed her...yelling at her, cursing her betrayal that had cost him his son. She screamed and tried to escape but his fury and strength was too much and a shot rang out just moments after that. Sara fell to the ground...dead...and the father stood over her body with her life's blood on his hands."

"This fateful drama did not end there but continued as Sara's grandmother happened to be one who dealt in witchcraft. Most considered her a daffy old woman who kept to herself. All but Sara who visited with her regularly and kept the old woman company, running errands for her when needed. The old woman cast a curse upon the family. She cursed them that they would never know happiness in this house. That though they would have sons to carry on the name, each marriage would end in tragedy and with the death of the wife and the eldest son. And that those that died under this curse would further be cursed to haunt this very house and further cause misery to the Hallingsworth family."

"Though the curse was scoffed at, it soon became a realty as the mistress of the house at that time was killed in a carriage mishap right there in the front drive. The horses spooked just as she was getting in the carriage and she was crushed beneath the wheels as the horses bolted. From that day on, not only were sightings of Sara, the young man and the mistress common but, through the generations, the curse has been carried out with the deaths of the women and the first born sons. The spectres that haunt this house are not limited to those of the family that have died here, though, the misery that has been caused by the curse has overflowed to affect servants and visitors alike and many are those that have died in this house and are now stuck her."

Now, you may ask why the Hallingsworths do not desert this house. They have tried but always something happens to pull them back to it. It has also been impossible to sell the house. Everytime that it has gone up for sale, something has always happened to cause the buyers to either back out or lose finaces that were going to be used for the purchase. And now something has happened with the current owners so that they are anxious to either debunk the curse of rid themselves of it. They are not great belivers in the curse and preferr to put it down to superstition and coincidences but the young mistress is now expecting her first child...a boy...and wishes to take no chances with the life of the, as yet, unborn child."

"You all have been brought here for your own specialties in the supernatural and there is a mixture of sceptics as well as believers. This was deliberate as there is to be no question about the final outcome of your efforts. Either you are to explain this away or rid them of the curse but, either way you will each recieve a payment for your service either in money or services from the Hallingsworth. The details of your asking prices will be ironed out in the morning. Simply write down what you wish as payment while in your rooms tonight and turn it into me in the morning. You will find the owner's final offer on the desk in your rooms tomorrow night."

Looking around he added,"Now, if there are any questions...please ask them. Once they are answered I shall show you each to your rooms."

OOC: Okay, I am going to give everyone a chance to use their imaginations a bit. After the question/answer session, I will be throwing some haunting at you...I will give you the spectre and you can come up with the reason they are there...after some research of course...lets not make this too short we want some fun too..sound fair?

 

[Vivid]

Greska

So that was it huh?

Greska stood quietly in the back. He slipped in midway through the recount of the houses 'spotted past'. They always had 'spotted pasts' - death and murder with a little curse to liven things up.

He would have been here sooner but he was setting up the last of the sensors and cameras around the perimeter of the estate. Besides, once he saw that one of the 'selected few' included "The Amazing Yapper" the whole project lost some credibility. What did Samantha ever see in him? His eyes linger again over her auburn hair as she listens to Garret speak.

Dimitri surveyed the others around the room. For a "selected few" it was pretty crowded in here. There were a few faces he recognized but introductions would have to wait.

There were a few questions. He piped up, "Well, there are the obvious ones about if the house is built on a fault line or natural gas deposit, and the psychiatric evals of the family members, but I'd like to know what happens afterward." He waited until everyone was looking at him.

"I mean, say this group of people can't figure out why these 'wierd' things keep happening to this household. Or even if we go running into the night from our spooks." He glanced toward the petite woman in the peach slip dress next to the guy with the camera, she looked spookable. "Do they open this place up as an attraction? Sell tickets to see the "ghosts"? Does anyone in the house want to go into politics?" He cracked a smile and put his hands up defensively. "I just want to know the real reason we're here."

 

[Dea Artia]

Sadira Bowen

One of the best things about being small is that people tend to overlook you. Sadira enjoyed listening and observing people. Manners, gestures, how they speak. Sadira watched the others in the room as Garret explained the history surounding the home. It certainly was interesting. Love, betrayal, murder and death. Even a curse to tie it up in a neat little package. She'd seen another man enter the room as Garret spoke and she pondered his inquiry about politics and the idea of creating fictional ghosts for profit. Sadira decided to break her silence and spoke up.

"Excuse me, sir" she said, adressing the new commer. "I am not sure about the main reasons why the Hallingsworth's would want us all hear, but I can assure you their -ghosts- are not of the fictional kind. I didn't say anything before, it wasn't my place, but perhaps now I ought to explain something about myself. My name is Sadira Bowen. I am not educated with a degree, nor do I have exprience in the scientific field, but I can say one thing for a certainty. There are restless spirits among us." Sadira paused, then looked at the floor and barely a whisper she spoke again. "I can see them."

 

[Kalann Rathwind]

Agent Garret Mitchell

OOC: Sorry been busy

IC: As the car pulled through the gates of the old mansion to the house I felt a rush of adreniline pump through my veins and I was filled with a renewed since of happiness at my decision to take off for a month and come here. As the car came to a stop also I was glad that I had driven from D.C. instead of taking a plane( I hated flying ). I locked the door and went to the trunk and gathered my things. I went to the door and knocked loudly. The door opened and a man stood behind it.

" Sorry I'm late. " I said.

" Ahh, Agent Mitchell." the man said, "We were beginning to worry you were not going to arrive."

" Yeah well I am here now." I said.

" Yes I guess you are, I am Garrett let me show you to the others." he said

" Lead away." I said and followed the man into the house.

 

[Vivid]

Dimitri Greska

His smile was unreadable. Amusement perhaps. Considering and thoughtfulness, maybe.
"Sadira, was it?" he spoke loudly, "I met someone who could see dead people once, she described them perfectly and had her pictures in all the papers. Then it was discovered that her hobbies were history and geneology and she had a history of schitzophrenia. Now, I don't mean to imply anything about you," he stated as a quick defense "but people will go through great lengths for public attention."

 

[Morgana]

Mary Kate Devlynn

I listened to Garrett describe the history of the house and I considered the irony that a place with such a benign appearance could have such a corrupt history. An attractive man entered the room toward the beginning of Garrett's monologue. Nice smile, I thought to myself. Another member of this "select few," I supposed. An FBI agent? I could have sworn I'd looked over a case file with him once but I coldn't remember exactly.

Greska took far too much delight in disproving supernatural phenomena and his presence here did not surprise me. There isn't a psychic in the business who hasn't had his or her writings, ideas, or abilities placed under the microscope of Greska's scrutiny.

I agreed with Greska about one thing--with such a diverse group of scientists and psychics, there was no way we were going to reach a consensus about anything. And I wondered if it was the authenticity of our credibility that was being examined, rather than that of any ghosts.

I continued to observe silently as a pretty young woman with Asian features said that she could see spirits in the house. I, myself, could not. I have never seen ghosts but I do not deny the possiblity that others could. She was interesting. I hoped that I would have a chance to speak with her this weekend.

Hauntings or no hauntings, this was going to be one roller coaster ride of an adventure. I didn't need my precognition to predict that certainty.

 

[Dea Artia]

Sadira Bowen

She was not surprised by what the man said. Certainly he did not think that she too was a phony, but one never knew about skeptics. She thought back of a time when people thought she had a mental illness, telling her the people she saw was just her brain playing tricks on her. But they could never explain the things she knew, the things she talked about, even at such a young age.

"Yes. I can understand where you are coming from. Perhaps I lie about the people I see, read events of history in books and try to solve murder cases simply by listening to the made up voices in my head."
By now, Sadira was standing almost in the middle of the room, her voice raising little by little until it could be heard clearly by everyone else in the room.
"I'll be the first to admit that I'm a lie, that everything I do is fake. But try telling that to the people who are in this room. Touching your jacket, trying to smell the fibers. Standing by the fire, trying to get rid of the never ending cold. Sitting at the window ledge yearning to run in the fields. Smiling at me, praying I can help...." With a sigh, Sadira sank to the floor, her hands covering her face.

 

[Neale]

[Edited by Neale on 04-01-2001 at 10:37 AM]

 

[Vivid]

Dimitri the Cold

Dimitri watched Sadira intently. He had seen drama before, shot some footage of the best and worst actors in Hollywood. But he noticed goosebumps crawl along the young woman's arms as she spoke. His stance softened.

He removed his sportscoat to put around her shoulders but another had made it to her before he had. Greska stood where he was.

"Look," he said, his tones softer. Turning his gaze away from the quietly sobbing form. "Does anyone else have any insights, intuative or otherwise, into this house?"

[Edited by Vivid on 04-01-2001 at 01:46 AM]

 

[Neale]

Peter Yarrow

Peter leans over to his wife, and whispers "Isn't this awesome? We could really be in for an experience, here! Still, better get into character... looks like that poor kid Greska's cornered could use some help..."

He strides over to where Sadira, Greska and the others are standing. "Don't mind Greskie, dear. He's still getting over learning that Santa Claus isn't quite as advertised, so he tries to attack everything we psychics stand for. Anything with the slightest touch of magic drives him batty." He beams a broad smile at them all.

"Not to worry, though. The Amazing Yappi is here, and all will be well." Assuming a very eerie voice, Peter rolls his eyes back in his head, and speaks, "Oooohhh spirits who dwell within this demesne, know that your time of unrest shall soon pass... The curse of the witch to rest shall be laid... Your soul's torment soon to be eased..." Stopping suddenly, he shakes his head, as though to clear it.

 

[Isolde]

Garrett

Garrett stepped into the middle of the room and held up his hands for silence. Looking around at each of them, his gaze seemed to penetrate beyond and into each of their very souls.

"The fact that there are both believers and skeptics in this group is a deliberate move by the owners. They wish to explore any and every possible explanation. That is also the reason why I have used only a few names when giving you the history of the house. It prevents anyone from being able to fake the knowledge. The owners through the years have been able to keep the stories of the hauntings from public knowledge. There are rumors, to be sure, but none of them come close to what is really going on. You would be amazed at how money can keep things private...or cause a red herring to be dragged across a trail. Most of the rumors that are out there were actually manufactured by the Hallingsworths. If any of you use them during your stay here we shall know and the offer of payment is null and void at that point."

A smile crept onto his wizened face and he walked over to a desk that sat along one wall of the library. Pulling out a folder from one of the drawers he handed them to Dimitri. "Here is a report of the extensive land survey done just one month ago, Mr. Greska. You will find that there are no abnormalities in the land that would explain any of the happenings in this house."

Placing his hand behind his back and addressing the whole of those assembled there, he said,"On the morrow, you will be allowed free access to any of our records that may help you. There are also many books on the people who have lived in this house...owners and guests alike in the library. But you will have to do research in order to prove anything you see in this house. It will not be given to you. We must know that anything you find out and see is authintic."

"For tonight, if you have no more questions, I shall begin to show you each to your rooms."

 

[Mistress]

Mercy

Mercy blinked her big eyes at Dino then listened the rest of the history. When the man finally paused again she slowly stood glancing around the room. She did not believe in ghosts really, but her skin crawled at the thought.

"Excuse me?” She asked timidly, adjusting the thin strap on her pale shoulder. "I understand you need help umm explaining the events here but.."

Stuttering she pointed to Dino, "My assist and I are here for a photo shoot. We can leave and come back another time if needed."

Dino eyed the crowd, “If we were all brought here to 'help' this family then why is Ms. Sage here?" He gestured to Mercy, “She’s a model, and I don't see that having anything to do with paranormal research!" He raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit protective of his friend. He placed a hand on her small shoulder waiting for an answer.

Mercy shivered as she felt a chill and crossed her bare arms over her low cut dress. Her eyes nervously darted around the room from each person then to the window...she could see the Gardens. An eerie feeling crept up her spine but she shook it off as her imagination.

 

[Isolde]

Garrett

Garrett shook his head and smiled at Mercy. "Ms Sage's name was on the list of those whom were to investigate the hauntings. The list was made by the present owners and I was given strict instructions on exactly what I could tell you all. I have disclosed all I can about the haunting themselves. Your agent was told this was to be a photo shoot because he is not a man to book you for a haunting. I apologize for the deception but it was necessary."

 

[Isolde]

Lorna

I had sat back and listened to everything that Garrett had to say as well as comments from my fellow 'ghost hunters'. Finally I spoke up.

"I have investigated a number of houses that were supposed to be haunted. I have yet to met any spooks, spirits or forces that Hollywood could not duplicate. Either that or there were natural causes. I am sure a through investigation will uncover a logical explanation for everything."

"I will start research tomorrow as Garrett suggests. It will be no different than the research I have done for my books."

I said it with confidence in my voice but a look at Garrett's face suddenly made me doubt myself and my beliefs. Trying to shake the feeling, I looked away and out to the gardens beyond. It didnt help.

 

[Vivid]

Greska

The fact that it was The Incredulous Mr. Yippie that stepped in the do his psycrap routine did nothing to help Dimitri's mood. He glared at Paul and did little more than glance at Sammantha. Why was she with him?
Speaking of 'Why's, Greska could only see a publicity reason for the model's presence. This whole thing seemed a stunt of some type. He half-heartedly thumbed through the folder Garret handed him.
The writer seemed to agree with him. Greska felt better. After he set the external equipment on record he would visit this young lady, get her feel for the situation. She may have some input on the land surveys as well.


[Edited by Vivid on 04-01-2001 at 10:31 PM]

 

[BadForm]

Tatunka: Occam's Razor

Tat glanced from Dimitri to Lorna, a slight smile on his lips. So, two definite skeptics were here. That was good, for most of the rest of the group, himself included, would have their judgement colored by their beliefs. That was not to say that any of them were foolish or easily manipulated, but he knew enough to know that as a person lives their lives, they generally gain knowledge which reinforces the ideas gained previously. That which challenges it can too often be discounted or reinterpretted in the light of one's beliefs. Knowing this gave a certain strength to one's interpretation of events, but did not entirely eliminate the possibility of misinterpretation.

"It is good to have our skeptical friends among us," he said with a slight chuckle. "Perhaps they will focus our minds and prevent them straying down the tracks of our own prejudices. However, I would ask you to bear in mind one thing, sir, madam. Occam's Razor is a tool, and that is all. It should be relied on no more than any other tool. All we can see in this world is the result of events, not the entire causal chain which brought them about. This being the case, it is not possible to determine that just because a haunting CAN be duplicated by holywood trickery, that it WAS a result of similar. In much the same way that if I tell you where I left from to come here, you cannot determine the route I took, but only the quickest/cheapest etc, so you cannot determine that one potential argument for the existence of a ghost is the real one. Our fields, the psychic, the religious, the skeptic, have too often demanded that the world accept their explanations as absolute truths and deny the other fields. Let us know work together."

 

[Balthezar]

Prof. Robert Hawkins

Robert sat, listening to the entire proceedings with interest. It was indeed a motly crew that had been assembled here, and he, for one, was not exactly accustomed to working with half a dozen people clamoring to have their opinions heard. As such, while the conversation continued on, he rose and approached Garret.

"Excuse me sir, but if you would be so kind to show me to my room now?" he asked.

"Certainly, it's right this way professor." Some of the group stared as he left, perhaps considering his abrupt departure odd, but that was hardly his concern. Following Garret to a large staircase, he listened to the man's hastily given directions. "You'll forgive me for not showing you myself, but I do need to make myself available to the other guests."

Hawkins nodded and proceeded up the stairs, eventually stumbling his way down the corridors to his room. It, like the entirety of the house up to this point, was austentatious, at least to the practical Hawkins' perception. He placed his bag upon a chair, taking out a small vial and a syringe. He was wondering if he was even taking this whole thing seriously, staring at the vial, when he heard a knock at his door.

 

[Isolde]

Lorna

When Garrett came back into the room, I said,"I would like to go to my room also. We cant start research until tomorrow and sitting here picking each other apart is not turning out to be very productive. I think a good rest after the plane ride is called for."

Garrett nodded my way and said,"I shall and each of you will have a supper tray sent to your room. Starting in the morning, meals will be served in the main dining room. Breakfast is served at seven...buffet style, lunch promtly at noon and dinner at six thirty. Our cook is very tempremental and does not care to make more than one meal so I would caution each of you to make the meal times should you want to eat. However, snacks will be readily available if you should need something between meals. All you have to do is ask."

"As for servants, there are three maids, myself, the cook and her two aides," Looking around at those who had professed scepcism,"In case you wish a head count for your research."

With that, he lead me to the bottom of the stairs, gave me instructions to my room and left to go back to the others. As I made my way up the stairs and to my luxurious, airy room, I wondered just what I had gotten myself into.