“Something like that.” In reality, I hadn’t slept a wink, knowing what was coming. “And it’s 7:30, which is not early for mostpeople.”
She pulled the sheet up over her head, hiding until I yanked it clear off her body. “Ugghh,” Caseygroaned.
“Let’s go. I’ll give you thirty minutes to get yourselfready.”
“Thirty minutes?! I’m not a magician, Jake.” Flinging the sheets off her body, Casey padded off to the bathroom grumbling, “But I’ll do what I can to not look like atroll.”
I grinned at her cranky response. “That’s allIask.”
Waiting for Casey,I stood in the hallway, gripping my keys in one hand and, in the other, a twelve-year-old piece of paper featuring a list of cryptic directions pointing to a hidden location. Written from memory, it was a treasure map of sorts, but there would be no reward at this end of this path. I smoothed the worn paper with my fingers. The list was almost unreadable at this point and of no significant value to me. I certainly didn’t need it to get where I was going. Each line on this tattered parchment was burned in my memory for life. Truth be told, I only carried it with me now for emotional support. It was a reminder that I wasn’t crazy, and that where I was going was more than just a place that lived in my nightmares. It was real and as tangible as the paper in my hand. And after today, it would never be a secretagain.
#1. From highway, takePoplinRd.
“You’re pulling in here?”Casey asked, scanning the surrounding area with a puzzled expression on her face. “Is this evenaroad?”
#2 At 3.24 miles, turn right onto adirtpath.
“Not officially. It’s a back way onto theproperty.”
“Whose property?Yours?”
“No.Notmine.”
I expertly dodged the overgrown flowering bushes and the branches hanging so low off the trees that they smacked my windshield on multiple occasions. The dirt road I was driving along led to a sprawling farm about twenty miles north of Santa Barbara. This seemingly tranquil place was anything but, however. Its grounds held a terriblesecret.
I pulled up to a locked gate, put my Jeep in park, andhoppedout.
“What is this, Jake? Are we supposed to be here? Isn’t this privateproperty?”
#3. Enter 8652 into themasterlock
I hadn’t been here in years, and it was possible that the lock had changed. If that were the case, I had a chain cutter that would get me through the gate. But, to my surprise, there was no lock. All that was required was unclipping the gate and pushing it open. I walked back to my Jeep and continueddriving.
#4 Left at fork indirtroad.
Casey’s eyes were fixed on me now. She seemed to get that more was happening than just a leisurely afternoon drive. I pulled toastop.
#5 Old barn with metalshingles
Exiting the vehicle, I walked around to help Casey out and then stood for a moment, staring at the old structure and gathering my courage. Dragging a deep breath in, I walked to the barn and, as I had in countless dreams, laid my hand against the tattered paneling. It was parched and unyielding, not like in my nightmares where the wood planks had a heartbeat and blood dripped from thecracks.
“Does this place mean something to you?” Casey asked, grippingmyarm.
I heard her words but was too caught up in the moment to immediatelyanswer.
“Jake? What is this place? Why have you broughtmehere?”
“You wanted to know mysecrets.”
Casey squinted, blinking out the sun, as she examinedthebarn.
“Do you remember on our honeymoon, when you asked what I was having a nightmareabout?”
“Yes. I remember… you saidghosts.”
“This place here,” I said, gesturing over the farm, “this is wheretheylive.”
“Live?” she asked, shifting positions and rubbing her arms. I could see the goosebumps traveling up them as she spoke. “What exactly are you showingmehere?”
