Dark Realm 3

Brinley bopped to the music as she drove up Armstrong Hill. The swooshing of the waves from the river cutting through the valley soothed her soul. Mike was right. She was afraid. It mattered if she could get proof of the haunting. She wanted to rub it into Mike’s face for the rest of the year. And if nothing happens then, then no one has to know. Brinley did not tell anyone where she was going. Joy would tell her how dumb it would be to visit the manor alone. “Damn it, why didn’t I drag Joy up here with me?” Brinley knew the answer. If nothing happened somehow, Mike ‘the mouth’ would find out, and he had never let her live it down.

As the car trudged up the steep hill, the check engine popped on. “You’re kidding me?” Brinley thumped the dashboard in hopes it might shut off. The car sputtered. She slammed her foot on the accelerator to push the car up the hill, but the car backfired, sputtered again, and shut off.

“What the hell.” Brinley exclaimed, steering the dead car off to the side of the road. After making sure she had cleared the car from the road safely, she popped the hood and got out. She was not a licensed mechanic but growing up without a father had taught her to pay attention to certain things.

A cool wind blew through the naked trees, snaking its way down Brinley’s spine. She shivered. “Okay, this isn’t bad. Maybe it’s the carburetor.” Brinley blew warm air on her hands, then hooked her finger on the latch to pop the hood. She ran her fingers through her hair for a bobbi pin. Brinley fished the long black projectile from her hair to prop open the valve. Brinley hurried back inside the car to turn the engine. The car sputtered, then died. “Damn it, damn it, damn it.” Brinley slapped the steering wheel. “What the hell am I going to do now?”

Brinley glanced up at the manor. The large estate appeared eerier in person. “Screw it,” Brinley got out of the car and slammed the door. She reached inside her back pocket to fish out her cell phone. “No bars.” Brinley held the phone into the air, trying to catch a signal. “Damn it!” she yelled, stuffing it back inside her pocket. Brinley exhaled; the cool wind seeped into her bones. “Shit.” Brinley processed her options.

The manor was far from town. Brinley was alone. “Alright, how bad can this be? I can either sit here and turn into a popsicle, or I can have a look around.”

Again, Brinley pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket. “One more time. Come on,” she prayed, trying to check how many bars the phone had. Brinley whispered a silent prayer, throwing caution to the wind she dialed Mike’s number. “Come on, come on, Mike, answer.” She begged.

“Hello?” Mike answered.

“Oh, my, God, Mike! My car broke down on Armstrong Hill, and I cannot get it started. I thought it was the carburetor, but there was no juice flowing through it.

Mike laughed. “You’ve gotta be kidding me? You actually went to Armstrong Manor?”

“Yeah, well I did.”

“I knew you’d chicken out. I suppose you need me to come to rescue you, right? I’m a man. A real man.”

Anger flushed her cheeks. Why did she bother calling him in the first place? “I don’t need a rescue, fuck you very much.” Brinley spat hanging up the phone. She threw her head back and yelled in total frustration. Brinley closed her eyes to count to ten. “Jerk.” Brinley kicked the front tire of her car. “Okay, okay, think.” She whipped open the phone again, two bars. This time she knew help would come. Quickly, Brinley dialed Joy’s number. After a few rings the call went to voice mail. “Shit.” With one more chance to make a call. Brinley dialed the number for the tow truck and prayed.

“Hello?” Brinley moved away from the car, trying to get a better signal. The further she moved from the car, the worse the reception became.

“Hello? Who’s this?” A male voice sounded from the other end.

“Hello, Mr. Fergus, it's Brinley Myers. I’m stuck on Armstrong...” Brinley’s voice caught in her throat as the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Slowly, she turned around to witness an opaque light coming right towards her. Brinley shielded her eyes as the light grew brighter. “Hello?” The voice on the phone said again, but Brinley could not answer. Mr. Fergus mumbled something about ‘damn kids’ before he hung up. “Holy crap.” Brinley stepped back. In front of her was a wavering light, as the light got closer was a man carrying a swinging lantern. The swinging lantern kept her attention. It was old and faded. Brinley rubbed her eyes and stepped back. “Hello,” Brinley’s voice shook. “Thank you. I didn’t think anyone lives out here.” Brinley shielded her eyes from the light.

“I’ve lived here for a long time.” The stranger’s accent startled her.

“It’s my car, you see; if I could use your phone to call a friend, I’d appreciate it.” Brinley gestured to her stalled vehicle.

The stranger lifted his lantern higher. “Follow me. I do not live far.”

Brinley took a quick glance around. “Where do you live?”

“Not far.”

Brinley’s heart pounded. Mike’s voice echoed in her mind. "Scaredy cat.” His voice repeated. Brinley looked up at the dark sky. She exhaled as the man led her toward Armstrong Manor.