The Felon

Chapter 5 - The Outing

" Isn't this exciting ! Oh , why I feel so happy! " cried Annie as she sat on the Hugheton's majestic carriage. She laughed with James, and gazed at the elegant countryside around them. After riding in the carriage for almost an hour, Annie and James arrived in town. They stepped out onto the gravel that lined Somerset's Main Street and their hearts filled with curiosity . " Where to first?" Asked Annie. "To the library. There are a few old police records up the back. We need to do some research. " answered James. The pair strode across the road and into the library. The library had been built 80 years ago, and still was fitted with elegant gothic features. An elderly woman sat at the front of the library, wearing the fashion from at least 1550. "'Excuse me miss, do you have the key to the storeroom?We have some business to attend to." Asked James confidently . The old woman looked the two teens up and down, then reluctantly fished a key out of her pocket. James accepted the rusty key with a nod and then asked the woman if anybody had been in the storeroom since last month. "Not a soul. I've been looking after the place every day since July, and it's been rather quiet." She said without question, and went back to her sewing. James pursed his lips and nodded in thanks, then him and Annie walked to the back of the Library.

"Can you believe this place used to be a Gaol? They turned it into a library about 20 years back!"
" That's odd. Why ?"
" Well, back when this place first came to be , a gent by the name of Kurt Roch roamed Somerset. He had a large gang of highway men, and they profited well, up until 'round the time this place was built. By request of her majesty, they were hunted down, and then all killed except one. Mr Roch. He rotted here until his death at the ripe age of 40. It's odd, nobody knows what happened to him. "
"You haven't answered my question, James."
" Oh , yes. The Gaol's guards often complained of a ghost that roamed the area, howling and carrying. Apparently he resembled the Kurt Roch man. The guards got spooked, and so resigned. Then, the Gaol was shut down."
"Eery! So , has anyone seen the ghost again? "
"Yeah! Many times, that lady up the front has conversations with him."
"Ok... Are you sure he exists? I mean ,she could have been imagining things! Happens all the time to me!
"Annie, you aren't scared ? Are you? Seriously, don't worry."
" Alright then."

Annie and James strode up to the storeroom, and pushed the key into the lock. The door opened with a creak and the two teens hopped inside. " Ok, 1578...1580...1590...1613... 1624... That's what we want,1624." Said James as he looked through record books. " Ok, where's July? Oh , here is... Look - Annie!" Cried James with excitement. "What? This place is creepy , can we just get out? " complained Annelyn. James looked at her with a smirk, and held up a page.

14th July,1624

Male Missing
Lucius Duft was last seen entering 3 Lemondale Road on 2 July, 1624. He has no known relatives , though Authorities are investigating a link between Lucius Duft and

"It's torn James! Someone has been here. Some has been here without even that old lady knowing! James, do you know what this means?"
"What?"
"We aren't alone. And I doubt that it's in a good way..."

James shrugged and pushed the paper back into its book. He stacked book back up into the shelf, and hopped out of the cupboard. Annie followed, still wondering who had been there.

The 'old woman' , whose name was really Rose Dayinton, squinted in thought. Someone had been there, but she had been asked not to tell anyone. The man who had walked in and asked for the keys had been so mysterious, rather abrupt and a little rude. She kept her promise and sent James and Annie off with a smile.