One, she could only guess what was going to be in store for her on this panel of experts… and most of her guesses were not good.
Two, Mudville was haunted enough. But Salem? Home of history’s most infamous witch burnings. It could only offer a literal hell scape to a person with Natalie’s particular skill set.
Harper might be enjoying this road trip, but Natalie, holding on to a healthy dose of wariness, was doubtful.
But yes, admittedly it was pretty. Route 1A took them north along the coast. Natalie had to admit the glimpses of the ocean view were pretty nice.
Finally, the scenery gradually shifted and they began to see older clapboard houses that gave the feel of a quaint, lived-in historical neighborhood. But the area was not all that much different than the historic district in Mudville.
At least not much different until they hit the waterfront. Finally they saw the first indications of the tourist industry that no doubt supported this area.
The smell of the sea-laden air permeating the car even with the windows closed added to the seafaring atmosphere. Here the history was apparent. It made Natalie picture old sea captains and even older ships anchored in the harbor where seagulls cried above as they soared against the sun in the cloudless blue sky.
And as the history surrounded them so did the ghosts…
Now she didn’t need to imagine the sailors. They were right there on the waterfront along with dockworkers and what she assumed from their clothing were ladies of the evening.
All were dressed for the period in which they’d lived. All wore the same expression. That of annoyance. Resolve. Displeasure. It was what differentiated them from the living costumed tour guides scattered among them dressed in not too dissimilar outfits, but wearing the smiles of those who earned a living from pleasing their visitors.
Navigating through the increasingly crowded streets more slowly now, Natalie made sure not to stare at any one of the spirits and tip them off that she could see them.
These weren’t her ghosts. She trusted the Mudville spirits. Called many of them friends. But she had no idea how Salem’s spirit community would react to her. And she had zero delusions that being inside a vehicle could keep a determined spirit away should they come after her.
As much as she dreaded the upcoming panel, she couldn’t wait to get where they were going as the streets narrowed and the buildings became visibly older. More historic… and no doubt more haunted.
Harper gasped with pleasure from behind her cell phone as she took one photo after another of the buildings they passed. Some brick. Some wood. Often marked with signs to guide the many visitors who roamed among the shops and museums. “Look at these buildings. So old. There’s so much history here.”
“You’re right.” Natalie couldn’t argue. There was a palpable sense of age. Of history. Of the dead…
“These two days are going to be amazing!” Harper continued.
For Harper, this trip probably would be amazing. But Harper was here to experience history through architecture. Preserved brick and mortar. Shingles and clapboard. Cobblestones.
Natalie was having a very different experience. As she carefully wove through the traffic, the bicycles and the pedestrians, Natalie could see what Harper didn’t…Salem, Massachusetts was positively teeming with spirits. More than she’d ever seen in one place, and that included the cemetery on Main Street and the ghost party she and Liam had been invited to.
And when instinct from years of driving amid livings had her slamming on the brakes when a couple of ghosts strolled in front of her car, the spirit world of Salem discovered that she could see them too.
“Uh, oh.” Natalie breathed as the elderly pair spun to glare at her through the windshield.
Harper, hand braced on the dash in reaction to Natalie almost putting her through the window by suddenly braking, spun to stare at her. “Uh, oh, what? What’s happening. Why did you stop?”
“So you know that Salem history you’re so excited to see?” Natalie asked, eyes wide as the grouping of spirits in front of them pressed closer, surrounding the car on all sides.
“Yeah,” Harper said slowly.
“It’s excited to see us too.”
“What does that mean?” Harper asked, the panic evident in the rise of her tone.
“They know I can see them.”
“They meaning ghosts?” She’d whispered the last word.
“Yup. And I’m not sure they’re all happy about it.”
“H…how many?” Harper asked, her voice cracking.
“Lost count a couple of dozen ago.”
