Five minutes later, we were heading towards the tunnel. The rest of the journey was uneventful. But as we closed in on the tunnel, I felt a shiver run down my spine. Kit pulled over and turned to us.
“I have to ask if anyone has epilepsy, as there are flashing lights up ahead?”
We all shook our heads and Kit handed us a board with medical forms. We all signed one and handed it back to Kit. He checked them before placing them safely away and clucked his tongue for the horse to move again.
As we approached, we saw shimmering lights, like a kaleidoscope. They weren’t bright, harsh flashing lights; instead, instead gentler and easier on the eyes. They covered the tunnel entrance and certainly made it look like a portal.
Kit drove us inside and stopped the horse. All around was a kaleidoscope of lights that continued to swirl, and as they did, it felt like we were being transported somewhere special. A minutepassed, and then Kit pulled on the reins, and the horse began to move. We came out of the other side of the ‘portal’, and Kit drove us towards the Santa Village. There was a small shelter, and Kit pulled into it, gave the horse a carrot and drink, and a quick rub down before we headed back.
“Would visitors get a tour of Santa’s Village?” Cherry asked.
“No, we drop them off there at the stable, and they are free to explore on their own. There are shops there. However, in the interest of the children not seeing money and having their dream ruined, everything is charged to the room.”
“That’s a good idea,” I said, proud of Fiona and Simon. They’d outdone themselves, and I really want this to succeed for them. But it was a dilemma. Did we send the ghosts to rest, or let them stay? I couldn’t think of a solution and could only hope Callie could. There had to be a way for them to live together.
Callie
William had brought us to Santa’s House in a sleigh, and I’d had to swallow tears. It seemed like something from any kid’s wildest dream. The ideal Santa Claus home. It was like Fiona and Simon had crafted this from a movie set. The outside again resembled a large log cabin, garnished with fairy lights, tinsel, wreaths, and other Christmas ornaments.
Inside were wooden walls, bright, cheery fires, comfy furniture, and several large Christmas trees. It looked like Christmas had spit everywhere, and I loved it. You could see Santa sitting in the oversized armchair that would swallow you entirely. Or Mrs Claus in the beautifully decorated kitchen baking cookies. The whole house was truly amazing and a work of art.
“Then the hauntings here are rather mundane. Items moving, footsteps being heard, and shadow figures being seen, adult and child-sized. However, what isn’t mundane is the fact that cookies have been baked, when nobody is here,” I said to Phil, Liv, and Ashford.
“As in actual cookies?” Ashford asked.
“Yup. Real cookies that can be eaten, and different types of them. Fiona and Simon believed someone was breaking in, but outside surveillance showed nothing. They put a camera up in the kitchen, and it would glitch, and cookies would appear,” I replied.
“And then the cameras would come back on after?” Phil inquired.
“Yup.”
“Wow,” Liv exclaimed. “Are we going to split up?”
It was a fair question; there were several rooms to investigate. The kitchen, living room, Santa’s office, two bedrooms, a small dining room, Mrs Claus’s craft room, and a bathroom.
“No, what we will do is check the cameras are operating in those areas and then, in addition, place REM Pods down. That way, if someone wants our attention, they can call us,” I said.
“Not a bad idea,” Phil agreed.
“Let’s take the REMBuddie and place it in the bedroom, and the REM Pod in the main bedroom. I think we should also put REM Pods in the living room, Santa’s office, the small dining room, and the craft room. We’ll start with the kitchen first, and we can leave one there when we move to the next room.”
“That makes sense. Especially with the cookie baker,” Ashford agreed.
I began my usual spiel, calling out and introducing the team. We didn’t get any response at all in the kitchen, which puzzledme. I’d fully expected something. The living room, Santa’s office, and small bedroom were all the same.
Then we finally got a reaction in Santa’s bedroom. We heard footsteps and frowned.
“Were they heading towards the kitchen?” Liv asked.
“Seemed to—”
A squeal interrupted me as a Rem Pod reacted.
“That’s from the kitchen,” Phil confirmed as we left the bedroom and headed there.
As we entered, we stopped. A white mist floated past us and dissipated. “Tell me you all saw that!” Liv squealed.
“Yup,” I replied as I peered around. “We most certainly did not leave those out!”
