Ichabod: A Sleepy Hollow Story

Ichabod: Part Three

Last chapter:
Ichabod and Diedrich went to investigate the bridge, but instead decided to investigate the river, Hollow Stream, until Ichabod was swept away by it. When he emerged, Allison Kort was also swept away, so Ichabod saved her, much to her dismay. The two made their way back, bickering, until Allison told him that Brom threw her into the river. A while later, she passed out. Ichabod carried her back and passed out himself. When he awoke, he was in a hospital, where Diedrich had saved both of them. Ichabod told Diedrich about what happened, and the duo came to the conclusion that the river is haunted, along with the bridge, and Brom may be possessed by an evil spirit. Ichabod later met Allison's divorced, alcoholic parents who are both abusive and untrustworthy. Ichabod also discovered that Allison's father is not her biological father. Ichabod went to Constable Lawrence, telling him that Allison's parents threw her into the water...

August 18, 1820, 6:25 PM
Ichabod stumbled out of the constable's office, confused with himself. He had a multitude of thoughts going through his head, and he didn't understand any of them. He made his way behind the constable's office and leaned against the back wall. Ichabod then slid to the ground, and buried his face into his hands.
Why did I do that? he thought to himself, why would I lie to an authority...over something like this, anyway? I could've turned in Brom right then and there. Was I trying to protect Allison? Ichabod then revealed his pale face and looked up at the sky. It was sunset, however the constant gray color of Sleepy Hollow's sky just turned the pink sunset into a very dull purple-ish color. It didn't make the sky look very pretty, to say the least.
Ichabod was very confused with himself. He's used to lying to the authorities for his profession of spirit hunting. Why was this so different?
Suddenly, Ichabod heard Constable Lawrence burst out of his office towards the hospital. Ichabod closed his eyes, knowing that he's lied. There's no way this will end well, Ichabod thought.
He sat there for a while, thinking about his actions, when he heard screaming coming from just outside the hospital. Ichabod peeked around the corner of the constable's office to see. Lawrence was escorting Mr. and Mrs. Kort out of the hospital, their hands roped together. As they got closer, he could understand what they were saying.
"I just arrested you two yesterday morning, and there you go throwing your daughter off into the river!" Lawrence yelled.
"FOR THE BLOODY LAST TIME, I DID NOT THROW MY DAUGHTER INTO THAT RIVER!" Elias Kort screamed back.
"SHE'S NOT YOUR DAUGHTER!" Jannet Kort yelled at Elias.
"WELL THEN WHO THE HELL'S DAUGHTER IS SHE?!" Elias yelled, again.
"SHE'S MINE AND...and...SOMEONE ELSE'S!" Jannet yelled, sounding uncertain.
"DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO?!" Elias screamed at her. Jannet just kept on an angry expression, but her eyes shifted nervously for a moment. Elias' eyes widened. He stopped walking, which forced the other two to stop. "You know who's she is, don't you? YOU BLOODY KNOW!! YOU'VE ALWAYS KNOWN!!" Elias continued. He tried to attack her, but the constable pulled them away from each other and forced them to continue into his office.
"You can save this for the court room!" Lawrence told them, clearly sick of their yelling. He then lead them both into his office, shutting the door behind him, with the two of them arguing with each other the whole way.
Ichabod's face was pale. Even paler than usual. He almost looked sick, however that may have just been from his accident at the stream. Ichabod silently looked down at the ground. Maybe I...did the right thing? If that's the case, then why don't I feel like I did? he thought to himself.
"Frightened you to, huh?"
Ichabod jumped, actually letting out a gasp. He whirled around to see Claus Mogens. Ichabod let out a sigh of relief.
"Good heavens, Claus, you frightened me more than all that did." Ichabod let out a little chuckle.
"Oh, I apologize for that!" Claus said with his usual smile, "Any idea what that was all about?"
Ichabod gulped. He then put on his usual act, "Oh, I'm not entirely sure. I think it had something to do with Allison's accident."
"Poor girl," Claus said, "She doesn't deserve to be treated like that. She's just grown up in a bad home, with even worse parents. All she really wants is to be cared for, and to live a better life. I apologize if I sound like I'm gossiping."
"No, no, no, it's quite all right! I mean, who wouldn't want to live a great life?" Ichabod said this, knowing in the back of his mind that his life is all about bad things happening.
"Well, I can say from experience that living the simple life isn't that bad!" Claus said, with his always happy mood.
"You're truly good, aren't you?" Ichabod almost envied how nice Claus was.
"I try my best! I've always thought being friendly was the way to go."
Ichabod liked Claus. Claus was welcoming, friendly, and good to his core. He could trust him. "So, what were you doing back here, behind the constable's office and all?"
"I could ask you the same!" Claus chuckled at his own joke. Ichabod laughed nervously along with him. "Well," Claus continued, and looked at the big tree next to them, "in the early days of our town, they would use this tree to hang criminals. My great grandfather was accused of being a demon. They claimed that he burned down the court building. However, we know now that is was simply a fire that a servant started, as a way to retaliate I suppose."
Ichabod took all of this in, but, so he wouldn't lose his cover, he looked very nervous, as he did to fool Brom. However, Ichabod's mind was recording every word Claus said.
Okay, so this used to be a hanging tree, and Claus' great grandfather was accused of being a demon, Ichabod thought to himself.
"Of course, we don't have servants around here anymore. The VanTassels also let all of their slaves go, too. They did that about ten years after we were founded. We just didn't believe in that kind of stuff. I talked to them, and they were very nice. I was nice to them as well," Claus continued. Then he frowned, "It's a shame they were treated how they were. The VanTassels were very good to them, but they still deserved a better life." Claus looked sad, which was strange for his personality. Then Claus looked up at Ichabod to see Ichabod's face looked like a mix of sad, fear, and confusion. Claus, never to have anyone be sad, brightened up quite a bit and said, "Sorry to put a damper on things there!"
Ichabod looked back at Claus, "Hm? Oh, yes, um...I....sorry, I was just thinking. So, why were you back here, again?"
"Well, I just came to pay respects to great grandfather Ambroos Mogens. He was a good, innocent blacksmith." Claus then knelt in front of the tree and rested his hand on it.
Ichabod just stood there and watched. He didn't know what to think. Claus was a very kind soul, and Ichabod trusted him. Continuing with his act, Ichabod said, "You know, I'm actually interested in the supernatural. It's, um, rather frightening...I...I only know about it in case I, you know, need to, um, ward it off."
Claus turned and looked at Ichabod. He Ichabod looked quite nervous. Claus smiled, "Sorry if I scared you with my little 'demon story'," started Claus, "but here in Sleepy Hollow, we're quite connected with our ancestors."
"In, in what way?" Ichabod said, nervously.
"Well, their stories shape our future, if that makes any sense," Claus said with a chuckle, "Their lives tell us about ourselves, in a way. We highly respect out dead ancestors, and treat them like wise elders, with wise tales. Their legends live on through us, for every past member of our town was, and still is, very important." Claus finished with a big smile, showing how proud he is of his town's history. Ichabod, of course, continued to look as nervous as possible.
"Well, I'm getting hungry! Would you like to have supper with me? I don't have a lot, but I can share!" Claus said, happily.
Ichabod remembered he needed to visit Katrina. However, Claus has been a good source of information. Ichabod quickly pondered this, and then decided, "I'd love to, Claus, but I promised Katrina I would see her once I was well enough."
"Oh, that's quite all right!" Claus said, happy as ever, "Be sure to stop by my tailor shop some time! I could easily fix up your coat there!"
"I'm sure I will! Until then!" The two then shook hands, and Claus went off towards his home, whistling as he went. Ichabod then dropped his act and turned to go towards the VanTassels estate. He stopped in his tracks, turned to look back at Claus, and then smiled. Well, Diedrich, I think we finally found someone who doesn't hate us, Ichabod thought to himself. He then turned back around and finally went towards the VanTassels'.