The Hathaway

Debriefing

No one was going to get back to sleep after all that, and many of us were still trying to piece together just exactly what had happened. Evelyn was shaken by her intense encounter with the shadow figure, and seemed to find comfort in playing host to everyone. “I’ll put on some coffee,” she offered as Andi gathered us into the kitchen. “Would anyone like some breakfast?”

We all declined, each of us shaken in our own way, and looked to Andi to explain what she could. “I’m not sure I’m the best person to offer answers,” she demurred. Then turning to Sabina, she said. “You seem to have been on top of this from the beginning, do you feel up to answering their questions?”

She sat up straight and looked us over, as she answered, “Of course. What would you like to know?”

No one spoke for a moment so I ventured, “How did we do it?

She smiled. “Alright, we’ll start with the obvious. Remember when Emma was making the figures dance in Andi’s room at the boarding house? She told me that when you two express your love it creates a light so bright and pure that most spirits can’t bear to look at it. And then tonight, the spirits from the ruins taught that song that told us how to defeat the shadow, the song talked about a love so bright no shadow could hide. You probably couldn’t see it, but we all could. When you kissed Ben you lit the house up to such a degree that there were no shadows for him to hide in. He had no choice but to seek out a permanent shadow, the shadow of the grave.”

“So he’s gone for good?” Ben asked. “That’s a relief.”

“Indeed it is,” Evelyn agreed. “I’ve had more than enough of his interference in my life.”

“He can’t come back,’ Sabina assured us. “But it wasn’t just your love that drove him off. That was only the coup de grace that finished him. We had already contained him by surrounding him with love.”

“Do you mean when the five of you were holding hands?” I asked. “I thought I saw something there.”

“You did,” she continued. “We drew our strength from Kevin, as I suspect you already knew, but we could not compare with the spirits. They have had more than two hundred years to grow together in love, that’s why they could contain him so well and separate him from Evelyn without allowing him to harm her, But once they had removed her from danger it was up to us to hold him for as long as we could. We wouldn’t have been able to withstand a direct assault from him, so it’s good that Helmut remembered his particular gift at just the right moment.”

We all turned to him, looking for some sort of explanation. “What? I just remembered when I ran head first into that energy barrier the shadow had put up around the Hathaway. I figured if he could stop me, maybe I could stop him, so I gave it everything I had and grabbed him by the throat. I don’t know, it was just sort of instinct. I wasn’t going to let him anywhere near...any of the kids.” He actually blushed. I remembered the brilliant light that shone from where he was touching Kevin and realized that must have been something like the light Ben and I generated when we kissed. I did not, however, say anything about it. I could tell that he had had enough of the limelight for one evening.

Sabina continued, “I think you caught him off guard. The gift of physical interaction with spirits is quite rare.”

“But what drew Helmut and Ben out to the ruins in the first place?” Andi asked, still a bit bewildered herself.

“I can answer that,” I volunteered. “The first time we encountered the spirits at the ruins, before they were even fully awake, they managed to hypnotize those two with their songs. I think it must have made some sort of deep connection that allowed them to call to them when they needed to.”

“I want to know what woke all these spirits up in the first place,” Helmut inquired. “What started it all?”

We all looked at Sabina to answer this, but she looked at me and said, “I think you are the only one who can answer that.”

I thought back to the first time we had seen the congregation act, and realized, “It was the fire. That’s what woke them up.” I told the tale of the visions I had received from the Elder of the congregation and how a corrupt leader had killed them all with fire. “I think when he set fire to the carriage house it was too close to what he did to them. That’s why they intervened.”

“But what woke up the shadow figure?” Helmut persisted. “He showed up before the fire.”

“He did,” I mused. Then trying to fit the pieces together as I spoke, I offered, “and we know he had been seen in Union house for many years, at least since Evelyn was a little girl. But why did he suddenly go after Evelyn at this particular time?”

“I think I might be able to answer that,” she hesitated. “I think it was the protesters. Their leader was staying in Union house and he was so fervent in his religious zeal. Perhaps the shadow felt a kinship with him and somehow used him to get to me. I mean, he’s wanted me since I was a child, that’s why I never went into that storage room.”

“That makes sense,” I thought aloud. “I think the shadow was attached to the protesters at first, because the first time we saw him was the night after the first protest. Then when you started acting funny, we didn’t see him at the Hathaway anymore. He seemed to attach himself to you until Ben released you at that church service. After that he came back to the storage room and waited. Perhaps he was shaken by his defeat, or perhaps he had to build up his strength for one final assault. Either way, the spirits seemed to be keeping tabs on him, and knew he would be making his move tonight.”

“Thank heavens for that,” Evelyn said, taking her son’s hand and kissing it. “I’ll have to thank them. I need to thank you all as well. When I think what might have happened…”

Her son put his arm around her and held her as she allowed the stress of the evening’s events to flow freely through her tears. “It’s alright,” he comforted her, “I knew it wasn’t you. You could never do anything like that.”

“I think it may be time for us to go,” I advised, and we all quietly gave them their privacy, allowing ourselves a leisurely walk through the woods to an early breakfast.

When Saturday finally arrived we were all anxious for some constructive distraction. As I had predicted, the kids were looking forward to the harbor cruise with great anticipation, even though they did not really know any of the kids from the church. They had each other, so they were not insecure about meeting new people, but I was sure that the chaperons would do their best to help the newcomers find some friends. Skeet would also be accompanying them, so they would have a familiar adult to rely on as well.

After helping them prepare and seeing them off, Ben and I began preparations for our own outing. The barbecue at Andrew’s was to begin just before lunch, and we still had to pick up ice on the way. We planned to stop at the boarding house to borrow a couple of coolers that Phil had stored away in the garage, and decided that it would be a good excuse to visit for a few minutes before seeing what new friends we could make.

Ben had brought his knitting and was showing it to Phil, and I just enjoyed the peace and quiet of a house devoid of children. Phil seemed to understand what I was feeling and said, “You know, you two are welcome here anytime. You don’t need an excuse.”

“Thank you,” I answered. We know. It’s just that...well, the kids take up so much of our energy, and there’s always something.”

He chuckled. “I may not have kids of my own, but I do understand.” He gestured to the stairwell and in a lowered voice continued, “College kids can be just as trying sometimes.” We all laughed and he said, “Anytime you need adult conversation…” he considered his own words for a second and offered, “If you ever want to use the dungeon…” A raised eyebrow finished his train of thought, as he looked at us with a knowing expression.

Ben laughed nervously. “I don’t think that’s exactly our style, but thanks for the offer.”

Phil grinned. “You only have to ask.”

“But speaking of...well, sex, I do have one request.” Ben reached into his knitting bag and produced the vibrating butt plug Phil had given us at the grand opening of Hope House. Looking at me with a smirk, he said, “I think it’s your turn today, wouldn’t you say, Mr. P.?”

Phil chuckled and replied, “I’d say it’s only fair.” The two of them looked at me expectantly as I tried to come up with some way to avoid the ordeal Ben had in mind for me, but I couldn’t.

Grasping at the only excuse I could muster I said, “If only I could, but I don’t have any lube on me.”

Ben just grinned and pulled a tube of lube out of his bag as well. Offering them to me, he triumphed, “Here ya go.”

“What? Right here?” I asked in disbelief.

“If you like,” Phil answered, “But if you’re going to be shy about it, you know where the bathroom is.” He pointed to it and they waited silently, clearly expecting me to make use of the facilities.

“Umm...Maybe I should…” I began, but Ben folded his arms across his chest and they both gave me a stern look, making it clear that no excuses would be accepted.

“We could take him downstairs and install it there,” Phil offered to Ben.

“We could,” Ben considered, “If he can’t…”

“Fine! Fine!” I rose and took the vibrator and lube from Ben. “I just hope this makes you happy.”

I stormed towards the bathroom wondering what the afternoon would hold, as Ben chuckled, “I’m sure it will.”

Before I closed the door I could hear the two of them laughing, and Phil requested, “You have your phone, right? I want to videos!”