Page 14 of Ghost Hunters 2

“But I don’t want to sit. I want to find Tilly,” Matthew argued about sitting out the hunt.

Dino was adamant. “After what happened today, you need to rest. Jillian and I can search for her, ok?”

Matthew growled but he sat down. He could feel something in the air. It felt like part excitement, part dread, and he didn’t know which part he was rooting for. He could almost feel Tilly was nearby, yet part of him was hoping she wasn’t.

He knew deep down in his heart she had been dead all these years and for that his heart ached, but he knew he had to find where her bones were hidden. He knew if he did he would free her spirit. He couldn’t wait to see her again. He was almost giddy with a feeling he hadn’t felt for forty years.

He had been waiting for her for so long. When he got back to the Inn that night so long ago he knew something held him back. Some force other than nature prevented him from getting close to the Inn. He closed his eyes and tilted his head. He concentrated on Tilly. He smiled as he recalled her face in the sunlight. He thought back to a happier time when they were together remembering a warm late autumn day and the picnic they had.

The very day Matthew finally told Tilly he had fallen in love with her.. They had gone on a picnic and full of fried chicken and coleslaw, Matthew had raised his glass of wine and toasted her.

“Here’s to the most beautiful woman in my world.”

Tilly had blushed. “You are such a tease. You know you don’t mean that at all. I’m sure the other women in your life are more beautiful than I am.”

Matthew shook his head. “All I can see is your beauty. Woman, you have spoiled me for any other female on earth.” He hesitated then continued. “Maybe it sounds made up but you are the most important single thing in my life?”

“Oh, come on.” She scoffed. “You’re making me blush with all your crazy talk.”

Matthew could see her flushed cheeks and the love she had in her eyes for him. “Don’t you know that I love you? Can’t you feel it every time I look at you? I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to give you everything you have dreamed of and call you my wife.”

Staring at him, Tilly fully realized what he had been trying to tell her. He waited with open arms as she came to him and sealed their love with a kiss so full of passion it seemed to never end.

Matthew came back to the present time with a thud as Dino pounded on the door closest to him.

Dino and Jillian broke into the room next door.

He struggled to get to his feet and wandered to the open doorway. The room was empty but it showed Matthew what a desolate forgotten space this was.

He turned to go back to his seat when he felt a breeze over his face. It smelled like lavender and roses. The scent reminded him of Tilly. “Tilly?” he whispered. His body felt weak for a moment and he leaned against the wall for support.

Another slight breeze carried her voice to him. “Matthew, you’re here.”

Matthew closed his eyes and replied, “I’m here to find you and I won’t stop until I do. I love you, Tilly.”

“I’m here Matthew. I’m right here...waiting for you. Please hurry before he comes back.”

“Before who comes back?” Matthew asked.

“George carried me down to this hell hole a long time ago. He locked me in this room and walked away. I cried to him for mercy, for him to let me out but he told he couldn’t allow you and me to be together.”

“What does that have to do with you being down here?” Matthew asked her.

“George told me he had created a loop hole. He said he would have all the time in the world but he needed us out of the way.”

“What are you talking about?” Matthew asked aloud. He hadn’t realized the conversation was taking place in his mind.

“Matthew, are you all right?” Jillian asked as she stared at him as he leaned against the wall. She led him back to his chair and when he was seated she knelt beside him. “What is it?”

He glanced down at her and said, “Tilly is down here. George brought her here just before the fire. He locked her in one of the rooms and just left her.”

Jillian glanced at Dino then back to Matthew. “How do you know that?”

Matthew shrugged. “She told me. She’s very close to us and she called out to me. I know you don’t believe me but she did.”

Jillian patted his knee. “Matthew, I do believe you. I think you and Tilly need each other more than you realize. What else did she tell you?”

“She said George told her he created some loophole." He told her with us out of the way he would have all the time he needed.”