Whispers

Whispers

A Ghost Story

A week before Halloween, our merry little band sat discussing plans for the upcoming event. After nearly two hours the only thing we had all agreed on was our celebration last year had sucked. Living in the small county town of Juniper wasn't exactly a mecca of... well, anything. The large parties and concerts were hours away and Halloween night wasn't the best time to be driving any distance.

"Well shit... what then?" Lenny questioned, sounding bummed.

Amber, Beth and Joy got up to replenish our beers. "I have an idea," Beth yelled out.

"Hey Beth, if it involves being naked under a bedsheet toga count me out," Ron yelled back, causing instant laughter.

"Why? Your boner was the highlight of last year's party," Amber replied, as the girls returned.

"Hey, that's my guy's dick you're talking about," Joy commented, and giggled.

"Alright... let's have it Beth, what's your idea?" I said, trying to get the conversation off Ron's Halloween erection.

"I was thinking we could all go out to Holloway's Cemetery. You know, for a little spooky fun."

"Seriously, you want to trapse around in a civil war cemetery on Halloween night?" Ron questioned.

"Could you be any more chicken shit, Ron?" Lenny asked, getting another laugh.

"Hey, graveyards give the creeps even in the daytime," Ron replied, rebuffing Lenny.

"Ya? Well, I guess we won't be worrying you'll get a hard on then... unless Joy wants to give you a hummer," Beth responded.

After the laughter died down, we sat mulling over Beth's idea. It was in the spirit of Halloween, and it seemed a far better idea than the lame party we threw last year.

"So, what... camping lanterns to make it even spookier," I questioned.

Amber, my girlfriend, bumped my shoulder and grinned, "Yeah, why not a little Halloween mooood lighting," she said, emphasizing the moo in mood.

"Hell yeah... we can have a contest on who can find the oldest gravestone," Lenny added.

"Hey, I like Beth's other idea," Joy said, joining in.

"Other idea?" Amber questioned.

"Ah, having sex in the graveyard... kinky I know, but it could be fun!"

After the others left, Amber and I were in bed discussing the graveyard, when she asked a question.

"Hey, you wanna practice raising the dead?"

"Jesus, what are you...?"

She quickly disappeared under the sheet.

"Oh... OH!" I gasped out, when I felt her lips slide over my cockhead.

Briefly stopping her blow job, she answered my OH gasp.

"Yup, I think this is working... I'm raising the dead," she said, and giggled.

"Yeah? You better be careful with that voodoo lip magic."

"Oh, I will, but I have the perfect place to contain this bad boy," she answered.

A short time later, her head popped out from beneath the sheet, as she straddled me and guided my cock home.

"There, it can't escape until it gives me what I want."

"Oh, and you think you have that power?"

"Let's find out... giddy-up cowboy," she replied, and started to work her hips.

... She held me spellbound in the night

Dancing shadows and firelight...

Eagles/ 1972

The next day, we got on the internet to see what we could find out about the cemetery's history. If we were lucky we might have a good ghost story to spice up the evening even more. The year was twenty-twenty and a full moon was guaranteed for Halloween night...

Beth's idea was near perfect, with Halloween falling on a Saturday and a full moon to boot. We set out for the cemetery just after sundown, in three separate cars. The age old site was east of town, so darkness rapidly descended on us. As promised, an enormous yellow arc of a full moon appeared, rising on the horizon, blocked by only leaf baren trees. It was an awesome start to our night. By the time we made our final turn the moon was fully visible and a brilliant white with the man in the moon grey shadows.

"God, this is great Eric," Amber said, sliding over to grip my inner thigh.

"Yeah, couldn't ask for a better start, huh?" I replied, looking at the low hanging limbs on the trees lining the dirt road, lit up by our passing headlights.

"Sleepy Hollow spooky," Amber whispered, sounding as if she was getting into the mood.

"Too bad we didn't find anything real juicy about the graveyard. I would've loved to freak the others out."

"Well, there was that one unsolved disappearance we read about, and it is a civil war cemetery... we could always fake it," she said.

I caught her wicked little smile illuminated by the dashboard lights and smiled back.

Out of seemingly nowhere, the graveyard iron fencing popped into view, looking dilapidated and covered in Ivy vines, and dare I say spooky. We were close to the double gated entrance when I pulled over parking the car. Lenny and Ron drove in behind me and parked. One by one the cars were shut off, plunging our little band into moonlit darkness.

Amber palmed my cheek and turned my head to engage in a kiss - a deep sensual kiss.

"Damn woman, are you trying to get me hard?"

Giggling, she shook her head. "No, I'll do that later... in the graveyard, Ooooo."

Outside of the car, setting our lantern on the car hood I pumped it up, pressurizing it. Lenny and Beth walked up to us, and Lenny joined me lighting their lantern. Ron and Joy were last, with Ron tugging at the front of his jeans.

As I lit my lantern, it flared a brilliant white for an instant and then settled down to a yellow-white glow, giving little comfort against the night, but it did illuminate the lump in Ron's jeans, as he approached.

"Jesus Ron, again?" I questioned, grinning.

"Blame her," he said, thumbing toward Joy.

"What, he has a nice cock - okay?" Joy responded, getting a laugh as she poked her tongue into the inside of her mouth and made stroking movements with her hand.

"Damn, it's creepy out here," Beth said, moving to join Amber and Joy.

I stepped away, leaving the lantern, to peer ahead at the arched gated entry. "Quiet down!" I shouted.

"Why?" Amber asked.

"I thought I heard something."

"Oh, here we go... nice try Eric," Lenny commented, as the brief silence I'd asked for ended with nervous sounding laughter.

"I'm serious. It sounded like footsteps and then a whisper," I insisted.

"A whisper?" Beth asked.

"Yeah, it sounded like the word - halt."

"Halt - halt what?" Ron questioned, finally getting his lantern going.

"Shut up Ron, Eric's just messin' with us. Aren't you Eric?" Joy commented, without much conviction.

At that point, Amber fully joined in on what she thought was a ruse.

"He might have you guys. We did an internet search and there have been a lot of reported sightings out here and strange noises too."

After her comment, no one spoke. By the lights of their lanterns, I could see them all looking around just as an Owl flew into the cemetery, crossing the path of the moon. Beth screamed.

"God, it's just an Owl, calm down," Lenny told her.

Amber grabbed our lantern and walked up to me. Taking my hand, she leaned close and whispered.

"You were great. You got em all spooked."

"I did hear something babe," I whispered back, getting a surprised look.

"Are you fucking with me? Eh, eh... hey guys, I guess we might as well go in, I mean that's why we're here - right?" Amber said, giving me an uncertain stare as she did so.

Four pairs of shuffling feet followed us. I say shuffling because their footsteps didn't seem positive. Arriving at the gates, they too were covered in Ivy, adding to the spooky atmosphere. Lifting the simple latch, Lenny helped me push them open. Years of rust build up helped to create a loud creaking - squeaking sound, that was grating to our ears.

"Oh, Christ you guys... I don't know if this is such a good idea," Ron said.

"Jesus Ron, come on, be brave and I'll give you a blow job," Joy said, getting nervous laughter from the rest of us.

The entry was wide enough for us to line up, side by side. Hooking arms together, we took the first step inside the cemetery together, some unconsciously holding their breaths. Four steps inside we all heard a whisper.

Fire

"Christ, Eric wasn't lying!" Ron said nervously.

"So, you guys all heard it too?" I asked.

One after the other, they all nodded their heads saying yeah. Almost as if on cue, the wind picked up, swirling dried leaves out in front of us, and for a brief period the air chilled enough to see our breaths. Off in the distance a branch snapped, startling everyone.

"Alright... calm down, it's October. Wind blows and trees creak or snap," I said, in an attempt to quell the growing fear.

Still linked together, we moved several steps more into the graveyard. Just as the brief gust of wind ended we were treated to another whispered sound - sounding like a cry of pain.

Eiyeee

"Don't tell me that was the wind or a tree!" Lenny whispered out harshly.

"So, Lenny do you still want to go looking at grave stones?" Amber asked.

"Funny Amber... real funny."

Retreat

"My God, the stories about this place are true. This place used to be a battlefield," I said.

Beth let out a scream, pointing up.

"What?" Lenny asked.

"I saw eyes... I saw..."

The events were piling up and just as Beth said eyes a long, harsh, screech echoed through the cemetery.

"Calm down Beth, it's a Barn Owl... you saw it's eyes," I told her.

"Damn, we're gettin' our money's worth. All we need now is to see an apparition," Amber remarked.

"Still not funny Amber," Ron said, repeating Lenny's words.

What happened next was spine chilling. A loud scream carried through the cool night air, echoing through the cemetery. Blood curdling. Desperate, then an unnerving silence followed. Under the full moon, we all froze like living statues, straining to listen as the decision of fight or flight raced through our minds. No longer linked together, a tug on my arm snapped me out of the tense moment.

"Eric, I peed myself."

"What?"

"I peed myself, I'm scared shitless," Amber whispered out again.

Our camping lanterns offered little in the way of light, other than the oddly shaped circular patterns where we stood. Surrounded by tomb stones, the full moon shining through barren Oak tree limbs offered little but eerie shadows. Lenny and Beth were off to our right; Joy and Ron to our left.

"Fuck this! Joy and I have had enough," Ron exclaimed, as the pair began backing up towards the gate. "Man, I told you all this was a bad idea."

Moments later, Lenny and Beth were joining their retreat. Amber I watched their wildly swinging lanterns, a testament to a hasty run back to their cars.

"What are you thinking?" Amber asked, just a very distinct whisper hit our ears.

I'm here... I'm waiting

A chill ran through me. The hairs on my arms stood up, along with the hairs on the back of my neck, and Amber's grip tightened on me.

"You heard it?" I asked.

"Hell yeah, I did."

"It sounded female - right?"

Amber nodded her head, "Do you think it's the one we...?"

"Read about? I don't know, but I have this odd feeling."

"Don't tell me, you want to stay - don't you?"

"I... I think I must - we must, don't you? I mean she said she's waiting, Amber."

"Babe, if it's her there was no mention about a cemetery in the article."

In a far-off sounding voice, I answered her, "I know, but her body was never found."

I continued to stare into the cemetery, straining to hear more.

Eric, find me

Amber's hand went to her mouth, the whites of her eyes shown in the darkness, as she gasped out.

"Your name, she said your name. But how's that possible?"

"I don't know, but we have to look for her."

"This is insane, you know that, right?" she said, trying to dissuade me.

It was going on midnight, and a light breeze had picked up again. Dry leaves rustled around our feet as we moved deeper into the graveyard. As if the moon lit shadows weren't enough, soft whispers seemed to come from every direction, playing on our minds. Amber's head was on a swivel, looking rapidly in all directions. I stepped on a dry fallen branch making it crack and Amber jumped like a frightened cat.

"Christ, I'm going to piss myself again."

I'm not far

Stopping, I looked at Amber. She shook her head.

"No, please don't do it."

I had to, "Who are you... are you Elizabeth?" I asked, calling out into the night.

Yes

"Were you... murdered here?"

Yes

"Why are you still here?"

Thrown away

"Oh... my... God!" Amber choked out.

"Are you by the river?"

River

Amber saw it first. A light... a small orb of light dancing in the distant darkness.

"Look, look... do you see it?" she asked. "Do you think that's her?"

"Only one way to find out... come on."

The cemetery sat at the top of low hill. Reaching the back side fencing, we looked down on the river below, illuminated by moonlight. The orb had guided us this far, but was no longer visible.

"You stay here, I'll go down and look around," I said, starting to hand the lantern to Amber.

"Like hell I will! I'm coming with you."

Climbing the fence, we worked our way down, slipping twice. The river was low this time of year, sounding like a small creek. Waves rippled around exposed rocks, lit by moonlight. I had no idea what I was looking for, and expressed the same to Amber.

"God, it happen forty-five years ago. There can't be anything left, can there?" she asked, clutching my arm.

"Your guess is as good as mine, but we're here so start looking around," I responded, holding the lantern out in front of us, waist high.

An hour went by and we stopped so I could pump up the lantern again. With renewed lighting, I saw Amber's shocked look.

"What's wrong? Have you found something?"

Amber raised a trembling arm, slowly pointing behind me. Her mouth open twice before any words came out.

"She's... she's... oh God, Eric... she's right behind you," she whispered.

"Elizabeth... is this where you are?" I asked, without turning around.

Yes

"She's pointing, Eric... pointing to the ground by your left foot," Amber told me.

Setting the lantern off to my right, I looked down. Something white caught my eye, looking out of place among the river rock. Squatting down, the moonlight lit the unmistakable white of bone, long ago stripped of flesh and muscle. We'd have passed over it using just the lantern. I brushed away river gravel and gradually, the delicate bones of a hand appeared.

I stood up, shaking, but relieved. We'd found Elizabeth and she said one last thing.

Home

"She's gone," Amber told me, and started to cry.

Embracing her, I let her sob out the grief. We'd found Elizabeth Winston, the eighteen-year-old woman who disappeared and been long forgotten. When Amber calmed down, I gathered wood to mark the spot for authorities.

Turning to head back, I looked up the hill stopping dead in my tracks.

"We have company."

"What? Did the guys come looking for us?"

"No... look up."

Amber gasped, but showed no fear. Elizabeth had taken that from her.

A line of full-bodied, wispy grey, apparitions stood at attention at the top of the hill. Confederate soldiers, one and all, saluting. Apparently our good deed didn't go unnoticed by the spirit world. Climbing back up, we moved through the graveyard unafraid.

Back in town, the sheriff's station was our first stop to report what we'd discovered. Of course there was some apprehension, thinking this was a Halloween prank, but when we offered to guide officers to the spot the apprehension ended.

The next day Elizabeth's remains were recovered, and after DNA testing, relatives were eventually located and notified. Whoever was responsible for her demise was either still at large or possibly dead. It remained a cold case file, due to time and condition of her remains. There was simply no tangible forensic evidence to go on, except for knife cuts in bone.

The papers carried the story with Amber and me pictured pointing out the site to police. We had our fifteen minutes of fame, which was more than enough. Months later, a small article appeared announcing Elizabeth's remains had been given a proper burial - she was home.

Ron, Joy, Lenny and Beth were astounded. Lenny being the most impressed, when they saw our picture in the paper.

"Are you shitting me?! We had no idea you guys stayed! My God, you two are like the actors in the movie Ghost!"

"Got more balls than me, I can say that for sure," Ron admitted.

"You talked to her? You saw her?" Beth and Joy, asked at the same time.

"We did and there was one other thing," Amber replied.

"Oh my God, what?!"

"When we were leaving... a line of ghosts, confederate soldiers, were standing on the hill saluting us."

Beth's jaw literally dropped. Joy gasped, putting a hand to her chest and lifting Beth's lower jaw back up with her other hand.

"Look, we're sorry for keeping all this from you guys, but Amber and I haven't said a word about our ghost experiences in finding Elizabeth. All anyone knows is that we simply stumbled on her remains, and we're asking you guys to keep it that way."

Amber and I made frequent trips back to the cemetery. Doing tombstone rubs, we cataloged the names of those long ago buried. Our favorite time of year was on Halloween. Every year after, we were always delighted by the occasional return of the soldiers, playing out their ghostly marches as shadows in the night.

"Eric, have you ever thought we were chosen?" Amber asked, one evening.

"Not really... why do you ask?"

"Well... we have a visitor and she has her hand on your shoulder," she answered, pointing.

Will you help

"How?" I asked.

Cemetery

"Shit, here we go again," I said to Amber. "Is she still there?"

"No... but if we're doing this, I'm raising the dead first," she replied, and grinned.