Woodlington

Chapter 9 - The Mausoleum

Alarmed, Alex half rose and peered into the darkness behind her.

"Jessie?"

"In here," came the muffled reply.

She looked again, then blinked as a light appeared.

"Hey," she said, leaning over the stone block and gazing around. "Where'd that come from?"

"The torch? Had it in my pocket."

"Yeah, but how come you didn't use it in the graveyard?"

Jessie shook her head.

"Not powerful enough. Besides, I don't think it's waterproof.

Watch yourself!"

Alex moved aside as Jessie reached past her and grabbed a large padlock. It was dangling from the gate post, clearly open.

"Is that usually locked?"

"Always."

As Jessie retreated, Alex cautiously stepped over the stone and watched as the torch flitted around the mausoleum. It revealed itself to be a mixture of damp walls, cobwebs, and a set of steps leading underground.

They made for the steps.

"The adventure continues," grinned Jessie. "You up for it?"

Alex gulped.

"As long as we're the only ones down there."

Together, they lowered their heads and listened. Hearing anything over the noise of the storm however, proved impossible.

What if there really was someone down there? They wouldn't take kindly to the arrival of two girls, that's for sure.

Ignoring the thought, she glanced at Jessie.

"Want me to go first?"

"No, that's okay."

They started down.

By the time they arrived at the bottom, the storm had all but disappeared.

Ahead stood a low stone archway.

Jessie leaned close and placed her mouth to Alex's ear.

"I'm going to switch off the torch," she whispered. "We'll slip inside and listen."

Alex nodded, then, even though she was expecting it, gasped as everything turned black.

She was blind. Completely blind.

In total darkness they crept through the archway.

Nothing.

No light, no sound, no movement. They stood there a full minute, hardly daring to breathe.

At last Jessie clicked on the torch and swept it around.

They were in a low, narrow chamber, which stretched away into the shadows. While it was thankfully free of living people, it had no shortage of dead ones.

Alex choked back a cry and Jessie's eyes became huge, as they took in the scene.

Coffins, maybe ten of them, had been dragged from their niches and opened. A few of the occupants had been pulled half-out, their arms and heads dangling over the sides.

When Jessie directed the beam at the nearest, Alex found herself stepping close. She didn't want to, but her curiosity was too strong.

So, this was what happened when you died.

The man's hair was grey and dry, and reminded her of cigarette smoke. It reached his shoulders, framing a hollowed-out face with skin the colour of old wax.