Promises To Keep

Chapter 2, pt3 - Henbane House

"Does it say what the scrapbook looked like?" Maura asked as she launched back into the ocean of cardboard boxes spanning the entire attic, searching for which one could contain scrapbooks or photos.

Holly hummed as she skimmed back over the page "uhh, yes, yes! It's purple with blue floral designs. Armed with this information Holly wiped her eyes a final time and joined in the search.

Maura was the one who eventually found the box labeled scrapbooks/photo's in Dezzy's neat scrawl. "Got it!" she crowed as she used her pocket knife to cut the packing tape open. Holly carefully hefted a stack of Tupperware filled with photos out of the way as Maura dug into the depths of the box. "This is it."" she said holding up and old and worn scrapbook, the once vibrant purples and blues of the fabric covering old and worn, loose threads tickling her hands as she held it out to Holly.

They sat down right there squished between the boxes and began flipping through the book. "Wow..." Holly whispered under her breath, her green eyes widening in wonder as she flipped through the pages. "There are so many family tree's in here." She smiled at the careful cursive that the names were written in, freckles crinkling on her nose as she traced the letters.

"It looks like they just keep going farther and farther back." Maura said, "Look for the dates around the early nineteen hundreds, those'll be the people who were alive around when Henrik was."

Holly nodded and flipped back to one of the first family tree's "Okay, so here's me born 1999" she traced over the laminated page gently, "my mom, Siobhan 1976. Grandma Aisling 1952. Great Grandma Saoirse 1933. Great Great Grandma Fiona was born in 1900."

"Let's check out great great grandma Fiona then! What was she up too in the early 20's, maybe—"

"uhhh hang on..." Holly interrupted an odd look crossing her face, look, Fiona had a kid with a Henry Henbane.

Maura looked at her wide eyed "Henbane? Like Henbane House, Henbane?"

Holly shrugged "I—I don't know maybe? It'd sure be one hell of a coincidence if it's not." She kept flipping through the pages scanning it for any further mention of him. "I don't see any other mention of the guy in here I—"

"We need to go to Henbane House." Maura said decisively.

"What—but—that place has been condemned for over a hundred years. The floorboards are probably all rotted to hell, it's a deathtrap."

Maura looked at her earnestly "Are you really telling me you don't want to follow up on the best lead we've found all day."

Holly pouted "No. I'm just saying aloud how monumentally stupid what we're about to do is."

Maura laughed and playfully punched her shoulder "Alright! That's my girl."

Holly rolled her eyes and huffed out a quiet laugh as Maura helped tug her to her feet.

"Time to put together a legit ghost hunting kit!" Maura crowed as she jogged down the stairs.

They filled their bags with everything they could think of. Armed with first aid supplies, a selection of knives, a baseball bat, a decorative iron fire poker, and the salt shaker the girls headed to Henbane house.

It was sunset by the time they arrived. Holly took a deep breath as she took the keys out of the ignition. Patting the dashboard of her beloved car gently, "God this place looks creepy as hell."

"You can say that again," Maura quipped making a disgusted face as she leaned around Holly to give the place a look over. "I think you might be right about the floorboard situation. Combat boots were a good call shoe wise."

Holly rolled her shoulders trying to psych herself up for what was to come "Okay, you ready for this? Whatever happens?"

Maura nodded "Hell yeah. Whether this place is just old and fugly or if it's haunted as hell. We're gonna find what we're looking for and then we're gonna find the Tall Man and kick his ass."

Holly nodded "Yeah. We got this."

"Course we do. Long as it's you and me we can handle anything yeah?"

Holly smiled at Maura her heart swelling with affection "Yeah."

"Yeah! Come on! Let's do this!" Maura cheered swinging open the passenger side door.

Holly tried to match her hype as she hopped out "Yeah! Let's go!"

Maura pulled her backpack from the backseat and slung it over her shoulder as Holly did the same.

Walking up to the dilapidated porch Holly chose her footing carefully as she walked up to the front door. Maura followed her path and came to stand beside her. She reached for the door handle and then paused and looked at Holly "But really, are you ready to do this?" she asked.

Holly looked up surprised but smiled softly at the genuine concern in Maura's eyes, she nodded "Yeah, I am. Like you said, it's you and me right?"

Maura's dark eyes glinted as the suns last dying rays passed over her. Shining on her like she was an angel. "Hell yeah."

Maura opened the door.

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