KINDRED SPIRITS... Burying The Dead (An Original Story -- Part 2)

KINDRED SPIRITS... Burying The Dead
is a story of life and death… And what happens to the people we
leave behind when were gone...

INTRO:

In Part 1 of Kindred Spirits… Burying The Dead, we met Holly and Joe… Two people still dealing with the loss of loved ones.., many years later. Unaware of each other and the connection they share, each are drawn to this historical -- even magical brownstone…

If you missed Part 1 click here to catch up.., or follow @macksby

PART 2

It's a beautiful night.., and the full moon lights the city like a fairytale… As Joe wanders the city streets, lost in his own world.., he winds-up, where else -- directly across from the brownstone… Not really having intended on being there, he can't help but stop and wonder what would have been -- how it would have looked if things had been different…

Picturing a magnificent bar on the pallor floor, big picture windows looking out onto one of the few cobble stone streets left in the city… Friends, and yes -- even family, enjoying the vibe as they sip there cocktail of choice… He can see it all in his mind -- like he has a million times. before…

Out of nowhere.., the skies open up and there is a crack of thunder, like he has never heard -- snapping him out of his own private world, as the rain comes down in sheets… As he gets up to run for some cover -- out of the corner of his eye he sees a.., flicker of light coming from the abandoned brownstone...

It stops him dead in his tracks -- the place has been abandoned for the last 15 years… Abandoning his initial rush for shelter from the rain.., he turns towards the brownstone and steps into the street, not realizing a taxi cab is heading directly for him, his vision obscured by the onslaught of rain…

Just before he becomes roadkill.., a hand reaches out of the darkness and shoves him out of the way -- it is Holly… "Oh my God, are you okay..?" Joe has fallen to the ground and is lying in a huge puddle… "What the hell is wrong with, lady..?" He says, as he gets back to his feet. "What are you, some kind of whacko..?" Stunned by his lack of gratitude for saving his life she just looks him straight in the eyes and says -- "Look moron.., you were just about to become part of the pavement, if I didn't save your sorry life -- have a good night, jerk."

And she starts to walk-off..

"WAIT --" he yells, as he chases after her…

Holly is over it.., and ignores his plea to wait and continues on her way… When Joe comes up behind her and grabs her by the arm -- and just as he is about to say, "Hold-on --" she flings her body around and mace in hand.., sprays it directly in his eyes…

It doesn't have the normal blinding, stinging effect it would normally have due to the heavy amount of rain still falling -- but it does blind him for a split second…

"Lady, are you crazy -- I just want to thank you…" as he tries to wipe this chemical from his reddening eyes.

"Your welcome…" she says politely, and starts to continue to walk away. "Hey, would you just wait a second -- don't I know you..?" Joe says following her down the street.

"No.., you don't know me -- you just see me here, every now and then, starring at that brownstone -- just like you… Now, can I go?"

"You're the girl with the sketch book…" he says, almost inaudibly…

And at the same time they both say -- "We're getting soaked…" Just like that the ice is broken and they start to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. "Look, can I buy you a cup of coffee, for saving my, sorry life --" Joe asks…

"Anything to get out of this rain…" she replies

As they dry themselves off, sitting in the local coffee shop -- diner is more like it. Joe can't help but think about that flicker of light he saw, right before he was shoved to the ground, by the very attractive woman sitting across from him. They order some coffee and at the same time they say --

"…and a piece of pie" as they laugh together.

Sitting there sipping there coffee and eating there pie, they each don't know what to make of the other… Finally, Holly looks at him and asks --

"So, why do you sit out across the street from that brownstone, so often..?"

As if pretending not to hear the question (but it definitely registered) Joe holding his coffee cup up, signaling to the waitress he would like a refill.., asks Holly --

"Did you see that flicker of light coming from the pallor floor window, just as it started to rain?"

"That place is locked-up better than Fort Knox.., it was probably a reflection from the street, or something." she replies.

As they sit there in silence, eating there pie, each wondering what the other is thinking -- they seem to be enjoying each others company… Two hours have passed in what seems like just a few minutes.., and it is quite obvious it is time to part ways… Joe pays the check and as they exit the diner he hails a cab for Holly.

They say there good-byes.., and just before he closes the taxi door to send her on her way… She looks up at him and asks again --"So, are you going to tell me why you sit across from that brownstone, so often…"

And just as he closes the door, he looks right at her.., and says --

"I own it."

And he slams the door to the cab shut and taps on the roof, indicating to the cabby to take off… Convinced he saw something -- a light, coming from inside the brownstone.., Joe picks-up a cheap umbrella from a street vendor and heads back… Sitting in the rain.., once again starring at the brownstone…

And then it happens.., he sees somebody move inside the brownstone -- a shadow, or something, but definitely something… He heads towards the brownstone, this time making sure to watch-out for crazy taxi drivers… As he gets closer, he's not sure what to do -- he has never once been inside…

But there was something about his meeting, earlier, with Holly -- that seems to have changed the way he feels about the place… Maybe knowing there is someone else out there that feels a connection to it -- he's not really sure, but the way he feels about it has shifted…

As he gets close enough to peek through the large pallor window.., he can feel all the hair on his arms stand straight up and he gets a chill, that shoots right up his spine -- but there's no turning back now… He checks the locks on the door.., and the place is bolted up tight. Making his way to the back, where he had planned on having huge Sunday barbecue's with family, friends and regulars of the bar -- he hears something coming from inside -- it's music, like the kind from a small music box…

Taking the keys from his pocket, that he has carried around for over 15 years -- he begins to open the backdoor to the brownstone… His whole body is shaking like a leaf as he enters -- it's pitch black inside and he bumps into something and hears something hit the floor.., and the music he heard earlier starts to play…

He lights an old candle that is sitting on top of the old, dusty bar top… The place is covered in cobwebs and dirt from years of neglect.., but still the old world charm and beauty of it is evident. He reaches down and picks up a small jewelry box, in it is a single women's wedding band… He stares at it listening to the beautiful music coming from the box as a ballerina slowly twirls a top of the box…

As he holds this lovely jewelry box in his hand, he notices it is in pristine shape -- no dust or dirt like everything else inside the brownstone… And then, sure as shit -- he hears someone breathing.., and again a chill shoots straight up his spine and he spins around to see a lone figure huddled in the corner… And then hears --

"Please don't take my music box.., it's all I have to remember her…"

To be continued…


Stay tuned for Part 3.., and see what the future has in store for these two new "friends" -- and who is this shadowy figure Joe has encountered.., and how all three are connected to each by the tragic event that occurred 15 years earlier...


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