Page 29 of Haunting Salem

The orb of light swayed then seemed to move forward, lowering to the ground as it went. I hope to God we were getting this on film because as much as I'd been a part of a situation like this on my own, besides the woman in the cemetery, I'd never seen anyone like this little girl. She was an intelligent haunting.

Mabel...Her light giggle had me chuckling as well.Where’s my mommy? I want my mommy.

“She lost her mom,” I muttered.Ember?

He appeared next to the girl and placed his hand on the little girl’s shoulder.I think I know where she is.

I repeated everything Ember said then to those around us. “Mabel is missing her mother, but from what I am being shown there was an outbreak of cholera here along with several other places in the area. I believe Mabel is one of the young victims.”

Owen whistled low. “Harsh. But, not unexpected at the time.”

“Didn’t the librarian, Mrs. Putnam say she didn’t know of any girl who would be of that age who died here?”

She had. “We have a name. I am sure with some quick research we can find information on her at the next break.” I glanced back at the little girl who’d taken Ember’s hand.Go with him little one, he'll find your mommy. He's good at his job. Okay?

The little girl stared up at Ember then back at me.He’s really tall.Tall as my daddy. I miss them both.She sniffled.

Ember grinned at me.Don’t worry. It won’t be long now.

“Cut to commercial,” Henry said. “A minute thirty. We’re already searching for the child in death records. Give us a few, Simone.”

Chase had already pulled his camera crew away from us and was speaking to the audience before throwing it to the break. I glanced at my group and smiled. “Well, that was fun.”

Owen stared at me in awe, while Jack's gaze was still glued to where the little girl and Ember had been standing moments ago. The little show was draining, but I also felt invigorated. It was almost time to make the trek to Proctor's Ledge. I had to pull Jack aside. I had a feeling before this was over, Jack was going to see gruesome scenes, worse than the clearing.

“You ready for this, Jack?” I quirked a brow. “It will get worse from here on out.”

He nodded. “It’s been pretty interesting so far. I think I’ve seen more tonight than ever.”

“Perks of the trade,” I teased, squeezing his hand. “I wonder what Henry will find for us?”

"Well, hopefully, something to validate what we saw." Jack crossed his fingers.

The radio went off again and Henry’s voice echoed into the still night. “We’ve found her, Simone.” There was an excited edge there in his voice. “Her name was Mabel Thomason, she was born in 1762, and died in 1768. Cholera was her cause of death. In 1773, her parents, Eliza Thomason and Zebadiah Thomason perished in a house fire, along with a baby born only five months prior to the fire. His name was Andrew Thomason.”

My heart sank. “Thank you, Henry. Good job.”

“Don’t thank me, Nolan figured it out for us,” Henry replied. “You’re back on in ten, don’t forget the info.”

"I won't," I answered. "I'll give the audience our findings as soon as we go live again."

Chase gave the countdown before we continued with our investigation. He turned his smarmy smile in my direction, and my insides coiled in revolt. “I heard you have an interesting update for us, Simone.”

"I do." I repeated the information Henry, or in this case, Nolan found on Mabel and her family. "A tragic end for all of them. But, hopefully, they will be reunited. After all, there is nothing like a mother's love to heal all wounds."

“I couldn’t have said it better,” Chase said. “Now, where are we off to?”

“Proctor’s Ledge, the site of where several of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials were thrown into the crevice after their death. But, first, we’re going to be visiting the site of where Mrs. Paul tragically passed away. I believe we should pay our respects before moving on.”

I didn’t want to see her. I didn’t even want to call her forth. Her death was a tragedy. I didn’t blame her for the way she took her life, the grief must have been unbearable for her, and I believe in her situation, she shouldn’t become an attraction or be judged by people. While everyone had been working, I’d gathered a dried bundle of lavender and chamomile and bound them together to help soothe Mrs. Paul soul. I meant to place it at the stump of the tree where she’d been found. My little offering of peace.

However, when we arrived in the area, the tree had been defaced. There were upside down pentagons spray painted into the wood. In areas where bark was missing, devil horns and other vile symbols were carved. On some of the limbs were talismans hanging from their spindly branches. This place was no longer a peaceful bastion. Perhaps it never had been. "Hey Lucy, are there any spells I should be worried about here?"

She stepped forward. Her breath hitched as she shook her head. “No, just a bunch of assholes who have nothing better to do with their time. The talismans are for protection. Whatever you have planned will be fine here.”

“Thanks, Lucy.” I pulled the bundle of herbs from my jacket pocket and bent down. “I didn’t have anything planned. I wanted to pay my respects to a mother who lost everything in a blink of an eye.” I glanced at the camera. “Everyone in the Paul family should be remembered not because of their tragic ending, but because they were a loving family who were taken too soon.”

After we paid respects to the family we continued down the hill to the ledge. I don't know what I expected to see at night. At first, it was silent. Tranquil. The names of each of the victims had been etched into each of the bricks laying the foundational wall. Owen began to read the names one by one, giving the person a legitimacy they might not have had in over three hundred years.

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