The Old Mill

The next morning, William is up early. He heads downstairs to the recreation room and begins organizing his ghost-hunting equipment. He checks that the video cameras are fully charged and puts fresh batteries in the digital recorder and camera. Once everything is ready, he circles the table where he has set up the computers and other electronic gear, checking each connection.

Wait until the others see this setup. It’ll blow their minds.

He has finally put all the new equipment together, and he can hardly wait to show his friends.

Upstairs, William finds that his father has already left, so breakfast is up to him. He pours himself a bowl of Sugar Crisp, adds milk and sits at the kitchen island. He sends Jessica and Matthew a text to see whether they are awake, then gets up to pour himself some orange juice.

His phone alerts him to a new message before he can finish. When he checks it, he discovers that both Jessica and Matthew have replied. Judging by their messages, they have been awake for quite some time. William suggests they contact the rest of the group and meet at the school. He finishes his breakfast and goes downstairs to load his equipment.

As he walks to meet his friends, William keeps thinking about the sounds they heard in the abandoned house the day before. He still cannot come up with a logical explanation, other than someone else being inside with them. Unless, of course, it really was a spirit.

Near the school, he spots all six of his friends. They are already gathered together, and from the sound of it, their discussion has become rather heated.

“You’re the most closed-minded person I’ve ever met,” Alexis tells Matthew. “You won’t even consider the possibility that something outside your beliefs might be real. What makes you so sure you’re right?”

Before Matthew can answer, William calls out, “Hey, guys! What’s up?”

“Nothing,” Matthew replies. “I’m just trying to explain that because a group of people believes something, that doesn’t make it true. The beauty of free will is that we get to decide for ourselves what we do and don’t believe.”

“Yeah, right.” Jessica folds her arms. “Except the way you put it, we’re allowed to believe whatever we want as long as we agree with you. We were telling everyone what happened at the abandoned house, and suddenly everything I said was either ridiculous or stupid.”

William looks at Matthew, who turns his head slightly away, then glances around at the others. “So what does everyone think about what happened?”

Jacob and Alexis lean toward Matthew’s explanation—not because they reject the supernatural, but because the three friends never proved that no one else was in the house. Alexis points out that leaving a potentially dangerous situation was the smartest thing they could have done.

Sarah and Samantha are more inclined to believe Jessica. They respect and admire her, and they know she is intelligent and rarely jumps to conclusions.

William looks around the schoolyard before turning back to his friends. “Sometimes we get so passionate about our beliefs that we forget other people have the right to see things differently.”

Jessica recognizes that he is trying to settle the argument. She turns to Matthew. “William’s right. Sometimes we get a little too passionate—or defensive—when someone disagrees with us. Sorry, Matt. I got caught up in the moment.”

Matthew looks down at the ground in front of her. “I’m sorry too, Jessica. Sometimes I forget that I shouldn’t push my beliefs on other people. I get so caught up in winning an argument that I lose sight of what we were discussing in the first place.”

“Now that we’re all friends again,” William says, “let’s see if we can find some evidence of supernatural activity at the old mill.”

With the tension gone, the group sets off down the street.

As the mill comes into view, Jacob studies the old building. “Looks pretty spooky to me,” he whispers.

Matthew hears him. “Don’t worry, little buddy. I’ve got your back.”

Jacob looks up at him and smiles. William gives Matthew an approving nod, glad to see him putting Jacob at ease.

Jessica suggests that they decide who will work together before entering. William agrees. He pairs Matthew with Jacob, bringing a broad smile to Jacob’s face. William teams up with Jessica and Alexis, leaving Sarah and Samantha together. Everyone agrees, and they make their way to the mill’s entrance.

William hands a digital camera to Alexis, a digital recorder to Samantha and a video camera to Matthew. Matthew passes his digital camera to Jacob, reminding him to be careful with it. Sarah has brought her family’s video camera, while Jessica has a digital camera and a recorder of her own. William carries another video camera and digital recorder.

With the others behind him, William approaches the door and studies the old structure for signs that it might be unsafe. He opens the door, allowing sunlight to spill into the room, and quickly looks around.

“Try not to breathe too deeply in here,” he warns. “There’s a lot of fine dust. It won’t take much to stir it up.”

The group enters and separates into their teams. Jessica reminds everyone to watch their footing. The mill is more than a hundred years old and has stood abandoned for a long time.

She and William head toward the grinding wheel. William suggests an electronic voice phenomenon, or EVP, session to see whether their recorders capture anything unusual. They both switch on their recorders, and Jessica begins asking questions.

Elsewhere, Matthew and Jacob take photographs and video on one side of the mill, while the other three girls look for anything unusual at the opposite end. Over the next hour, the teams investigate different areas, recording whatever they can. Eventually, William and Jessica decide it is time to stop and call everyone outside to regroup.

In front of the mill, they compare their experiences. No one is certain they have captured anything significant, and the only chills anyone felt seem to have come from drafts. William suggests they wait until they can review the recordings.

Then, almost as one, everyone turns toward the old house on the property. Their eyes settle on a second-floor window. Each has the unsettling impression that someone is watching them.

Matthew suggests checking out the house, and the others agree. As they walk toward it, William proposes switching Samantha and Jessica between teams. He is concerned that the three less-experienced girls should not investigate on their own. The girls agree that changing the teams makes sense.

At the front door, they discover a padlock. Their disappointment lasts only until Matthew takes it in his hand and turns toward the others with a grin. Whoever put the lock on the door has forgotten to fasten it.

Encouraged, the group goes inside.

The foyer is filled with old furnishings, much to everyone’s surprise. Jessica mentions hearing that there are plans to restore both the house and the mill and open the property as a museum. William thinks it would be wonderful to see the place returned to its original splendour.

As they close the door behind them, a chill passes through the group. Everyone looks toward the stair landing at the same moment, almost as though they expect to find someone standing there.

“That’s strange,” Sarah murmurs. “I was sure someone was looking at us.”

They try to put the feeling aside and move into the parlour. William suggests dividing into three groups: Jessica, Alexis and Samantha will begin on the second floor; Matthew and Jacob will search the main floor; and he and Sarah will investigate the third floor. Everyone agrees.

As the others start up the stairs, Jacob turns to Matthew. “Do you think we’ll really see a ghost in here?”

Matthew smiles. “If you were a ghost, would you hang around some old, run-down building or go somewhere livelier, like a mall? It’s the same reason I don’t understand why people think cemeteries are haunted.”

Jacob is not convinced. He has heard plenty of stories about spirits appearing in isolated places. He gestures toward the rooms ahead and suggests that Matthew go first.

“Sure,” Matthew says. “Just watch my back.”

That does little to reassure Jacob, but the two friends begin their investigation of the main floor.

On the second floor, William explains to the girls why they need to announce their locations on their videos and recorders as they move through the house. With the teams separated by thin floors, they will need to compare any unusual sounds they capture with the other groups’ positions at the time. He also reminds them to keep their video camera running continuously.

The girls agree. William and Sarah then climb to the third floor.

Downstairs, Matthew examines his digital recorder and admits to Jacob that he always feels like an idiot talking to himself while waiting for an answer.

“You don’t think a ghost can talk to you?” Jacob asks.

“I don’t think you can record something that doesn’t exist. People hear a sound and make it fit whatever question they asked. It’s like those ghost-hunting shows. Half the time, what they play back sounds nothing like what they claim it says.” Matthew looks at the recorder again. “But I suppose we’re here to investigate. If we want to keep getting invited on these outings, we’d better at least try to capture something.”

On the second floor, Jessica leads Alexis and Samantha from room to room. Whenever a room feels different or they notice a chill, they take digital photographs and try an EVP session.

“Is there anyone here with us?” Jessica asks into her recorder. “We mean you no harm. We’d just like to speak with you.”

Alexis and Samantha take turns asking questions too. If none of them hears anything, they move on to the next room.

On the third floor, William and Sarah conduct similar sessions without any noticeable success. Eventually, they go down to the second floor and compare notes with the girls. Jessica, Alexis and Samantha then head to the main floor and tell Matthew and Jacob to take their turn upstairs.

“Did you see any ghosts on the second floor?” Jacob asks.

“No,” Jessica replies. “Just some strange creaking, almost like someone walking in the hallway.”

Jacob turns excitedly to Matthew. “Maybe we’ll be the ones to see the ghost in the hall.”

Matthew shakes his head. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

Alexis suggests that the girls begin at the back of the house and work their way through the main floor. They agree and head through the parlour toward the kitchen.

William and Sarah pass Matthew and Jacob on the stairs as they make their way to the second floor.

“Seen any ghosts yet, Matt?” William asks.

Matthew answers with a sarcastic smile and keeps climbing.

In the attic, Matthew and Jacob examine some of the old belongings left behind. Matthew picks up a doll from the floor and sets it in an old rocking chair.

“Are you going to ask the ghost to play with the doll?” Jacob asks.

“No. I’m just trying to make it look creepier in here. But you can ask if you want.”

Jacob begins inviting a ghost to come and play with the doll. Suddenly, the chair moves.

“Did you see that?” he shouts.

Matthew glances over. “Didn’t you notice the doll just fell over?”

Jacob’s excitement vanishes.

After searching the second-floor rooms, William calls up to the attic, “We’re heading to the first floor!”

“Only one more floor, and then we can leave!” Matthew calls back as he and Jacob start downstairs.

William and Sarah are walking through the parlour when they notice Jessica, Alexis and Samantha staring toward the kitchen.

“What’s up, ladies?” William asks.

All three girls jump.

“Do you mind not sneaking up on us when we’re looking for ghosts?” Jessica exclaims, pressing a hand to her chest as she tries to catch her breath. “We thought we heard a woman singing—or humming—in the kitchen when we were coming through the dining room.”

“Sorry,” William says. “I guess it’s your turn in the attic.”

The girls begin walking toward William and Sarah. Suddenly, their eyes widen and they scream.

William and Sarah turn just in time to see what has frightened them.