The Untold

By S. J. Groves

This is the third book a sequel to the first book 'the ghost of Anna', also ties in with the second book 'The darker side to Dr Carter'. Susan and her daughter Sarah move away to a flat, not too far from the family home, where the ghosts of Anna and her father Edward Carter had haunted the old house. This story is about Sarah and her possible connection with Anna and her father. This we see, Sarah attempts to figure out some answers to her questions about the haunting experiences and her horrible nightmares along with other strange feelings from her past that she had in the old home. The haunting you would think would stop as Sarah moves away from the house. Un fortunately, it starts once again this time more terrifying as ever, as Sarah uncovers the truth. Nevertheless, she finds a gift and strength of her own to fight back. This story is based on once again true, strange and haunting events that Sarah has from the age of 10 to 38 years of age set in 1985 to 2012.

It was going to be from when Sarah was 10 to 18 but felt it would be better to continue on through so the book would come full circle when the haunting finally stopped and truth behind the story's accepted by one of the main characters of Sarah Jones.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Apr 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496975362

S. J. Groves

S.J.Groves was born 1974 in Bristol and lived with parents who were in fact her grandparents that already had another two children apart from her real mum but adopted her when she was very young as her real mum too young to be a single mum. She never knew her real dad as he left before she was born. S.J's biological mum went onto have one more child. S.J moved away with her mum as her parents spilt up when she was 10. Life was tough bullied in and out of school throughout her childhood and teenage years which left its scars along with other complex issues as well as some painful and frightening events. S.J after school had various jobs and travelled a little until she was ready to settle down, stop running from herself and her demons of her past. She in the end married when she was 23, her only love that she had meet at 16 and had two boys by the time she was 30, while she was a full time mum she did do several things like a charity catwalk, modelled for a photography club and also two home college courses to improve her skills and in part prove to herself and the bullies at school she could do something with her life, trying to not let the past rule the present or future. These three books were a mission of hers since the age of 16 but never the right time or strong enough to deal with the huge task in hand and what it could mean to her in terms her future. She knew it would be the biggest challenge mentally but a worth while journey and could help others that has faced maybe some of what the story's cover either the family or the strange but true story based on a real family and the trails and tribulations they face.

Book preview

Chapter 1

S usan Jones and her daughter Sarah Ann Jones were getting on well in their new home. It was a brand new start for Mrs Susan Carolyn Jones and her daughter Sarah Ann Jones, maybe a more tranquil present and future for them rather than the frightening horrid past they left behind in the old house with the haunting memories of the past but some good memories too.

The two cats Tabby and Felix they had, stayed at the old house for now, as it was their home but would come to live with Susan and Sarah, when the old house sold. The flat was smaller, than what they were used to being a flat not a house but it was a nice flat, a spacious 2 bedroom flat. In a nice area of Bristol in Fishponds with a big playing field, which was good, as they did not have a garden just a balcony nevertheless, it was a fair size balcony that looked over the playing field with the roaming hills and luscious parkland beyond. It was nice only 6 flats per block, which there were about 14 blocks of flats. They had a neighbour above them, a neighbour below them and a neighbour to the left of them. These flats were a few minutes from the park also woods that was in the past part of the royal forest, that Sarah and her family would go for picnics and play in the park on the swings and sliders or paddle in its cool crystal clear streams and river that flowed through the park. Sarah was nearly 11 years old now; her nightmares seemed to stop. The haunting experiences that she had in the old family home as soon as they had moved from the old house had stopped. The menacing ghost of Edward Carter seemed to be leaving her alone for now but she did miss the little girl’s ghostly apparition of her dear friend little Miss Anna Carter, Edward carter’s daughter who had befriended Sarah when she was 6 years old that had also presided in the old family home.

Unfortunately, the flat they lived in was not too far away from Sarah’s school either, which she still hated, Sarah knew she did not have the worse childhood in the world as she was aware and felt from early age, that there were children suffering all over the world through disability, poverty, war and starvation. Sarah tried to remind herself of this but the bullying was more intense and cruel than ever with constant name calling like ‘you smell, your so ugly and your really stupid, your nothing a loser and weak’, nearly every day, being a big senior school, it became deep scars, that would last never go away. It was hard; she started thinking in one sense that these children were right maybe she was these things. It was a new start but still not perfect. Sarah did not tell her mum, as apart from that they were happy. Bullying was something Sarah had all her life, so stressing her mum out over it was in some ways felt pointless, as nothing would change, she would have to live with it and other things that bared its deep scars that would shape and mould her life as she grew in either a negative or positive way.

Michael Sarah’s dad came over nearly every day, to see his daughter. It seemed that Sarah’s mum and dad were getting on much better living apart. There were no rows, no slamming of doors with her dad walking out, well maybe the odd row, more of a disagreement than an argument, which was good news for everyone in the family, as it was nearly all over for this family, this marriage. The old house with its shady past had nearly ripped this family apart with a little help from Edward’s spirit. Although this marriage was never a perfect one and always had, problems but the haunting, even the house itself and everything else had amplified the difficulties that this marriage had. It was nice to see Michael and Susan getting on better, although they would never be together or live together again the family realised that. Michael and Susan still had a connection, there was love for the years they had together and the children they had raised. This connection was unbreakable, something that not even, the poisonous venom over the years of Anna’s father Edward evil presence seeping into this family, could not destroy this marriage or this family, this family had dealt with so many difficult issues with strange events that had given this family an inner strength, which would not be totally destroyed.

A few weeks after they moved in, Susan had a little house warming with her husband Michael, her daughter Ashley, grandson Jason, daughter Diane, son Antony, daughter in law Susie, sister Emily and niece Jessica. Susan’s brother Mark was on holiday at the time with his family, so he could not come and her mum Hilary was not too well with flu so she stayed home. It was nice everyone was enjoying the party and even Emily was very compliantly on how her sister had decorated the flat, Emily felt in one sense her sister had moved on from her life before at Susan’s old family home with problems that her sister had. While it was still light Sarah, Jason and Jessica played outside in the fields that was just next to the flats with Jason’s football or just playing tag. The three of them were having great fun with sound of laughter. Susan noticed that during this family gathering Susie and Antony looked awkward in each other’s company, she was curious why. Maybe they had some sort of disagreement, as being a married couple you often do!

Is everything ok between you two? Susan asked with a puzzled tone in her voice, as she walked over to them. Susan instincts were right there was a problem between this so say loving couple!

Yes were fine mum, enough about us how is things here, really? Antony was trying to change the subject to divert his mum’s quires, determined at that point not to speak of these problems that him and his wife had to his mum.

Yes we are ok Susan; just a bit of a disagreement that is all, over something and nothing, don’t worry, Susie said with a false smile then added, How is Sarah, any experiences with the old house? Again trying to avoid the lines of questioning, there was a problem in their marriage, that Antony’s family would have the misfortune to hear about but not at this point, Antony and Susie did not want to ruin Susan’s and Sarah’s evening. It was not the right time!

OK as long as you are ok! Yes Sarah and me are getting on great here. Sarah is settled, I think. She is fine with Michael and me no longer together. Even better no strange occurrences! Susan answered, with a happy and contentment in her voice that was plain to see. I just hope it stays that way? She added with a note of corrosion.

I am pleased for you mum and Sarah, I am sure it will stay that way with you and Sarah out of that house, you both look a lot happier now! Antony said smiling giving his mum a supportive hug. That house was destructive, the ghosts of its past like poison to you, dad and Sarah and all of us? he added.

Michael came over and joined in the conversation. He was pleased for his wife and daughter. Michael could tell that they both were a lot happier and he knew that as hard as it was in the long run. He and his wife decision to separate was best thing they could have done for the sake of their family’s happiness and safety, in any case Michael could see his daughter and wife any time. Even after the separation Michael and Susan were still close and good friends, they were apart of each other’s life, even when Sarah was grown up, as they were not in love but they did love each other. They had been apart of each other lives for over 30 years, there was a bond between them of memories good, some very bad ones along with the children that they had, all the tough things that this couple had injured over the years, mainly Michael’s temper in the beginning, this connection through memories would never be broken.

The house warming was great but went quickly as things often do when having fun. The family left around about 11pm, to go back to their homes. Then it was just Sarah and her mum, both of them went to bed both slept sound, for the first few months all was quiet, so you might be inclined to think that it was all over for this family, well for Sarah, happier times now and for the future. The terror and fear that this demonic presence of Edward Carter had created had deceased for now it seemed but then again this intense entity had all the time in the world to haunt. There was a particular reason why he had haunted this family so much, in particular Sarah. This reason remained but hidden for the present time!

Sarah was more or less happy now apart from school, with no hauntings, nothing to harm her. She missed her ghostly friend terribly though. Anna was the only one that understood Sarah! Sarah sometimes in the night would call to her ghostly friend hoping that she would hear Anna’s kind and soft voice once more but there was just deadly silence with the eerie darkness of the night instead. It seemed to intensify the feeling of sadness of loss of her dear friend almost like bereavement as a tear fell upon her cheek. Sarah was happy to a certain degree for her hoping and wished that Anna were finally with her mother in a heavenly place however, in one way, she was a little lonely too with the sudden absence of her best friend. Sarah had always had a sense of lose as if she had lost people close to her in the past and cry for no apparent reason. Not really understanding why she felt this way apart from her granddad, she had not lost anyone close and even then she was too young to understand about losing someone through tragedy of death, yet these deep feelings of lose and loneliness followed her through her life. Like a constant shadow, along with still the feeling of euphoria of a hidden past, a happy childhood a long, long time ago. Sarah still at times felt she did not belong to this time, misplaced like a tortured soul but she tried to fit in as best she could. She felt abnormal, a freak with everything that had happened in the old house along with all that she had felt through her years of her life again not understanding completely why feeling this so intensely at the time!

The weeks went by with trying to get the flat up together and Sarah at school along with the visits from Susan’s kids and grandson. Sometimes Susan’s sister would come over with her daughter Jessica or Susan would visit her sister. Susan would see her mum Hilary every week sometimes with Sarah or without. Mark did not visit as often. He seemed to be moving on with his life like his older brother Harry but they would speak to their sister Susan on the phone from time to time.

Susan was doing fine now; she got over her depression more or less, she was able to get out and about a little more. It still cropped up from time to time, as with depression, it can be a long-term illness, depending on the circumstances surrounding the depression. For Susan it would be an on going issue with her tormented childhood along with other numerous problems that she had to deal with; for instance, knowing that her daughter Diane was not happy in her life at times. Susan knew that her daughter Diane had suffered greatly. She had witnessed at times her parent’s arguments terribly and raised temperament with her dad losing control of his temper with fists directed at her mother it was frightening for Susan’s children growing up in this hostile environment that would deeply impact on their adult years. Diane was young at the time when her parents did not get on. On the other hand, even though she was young Diane would never forget her parents tormented beginning to their marriage, which would be one the issues that would shape her life and her as a person along with her older sister and brother.

Hilary was getting on ok but she still missed her husband at times, they were childhood sweethearts. They had been together for about 55 years, a very long time to be with someone. They had their fair shares of ups and downs as most married couples do. It was hard and testing sometimes for Hilary, when he was fighting for his country far away from home in the navy. It felt at those times she was a single parent bringing up four children with very little help, sometimes her children getting the brunt of her frustrations. Susan was the eldest girl so she had to do many things for her younger brother and sister, her mum did not stick up for her when Susan’s eldest brother Harry would bully and abuse his sister. Susan could never do anything right when she was a child also growing up in her eyes with her mum and of course, she was not the favourite child her brothers and sister was, especially Emily. Susan did try not to be resentful to her siblings as it was not their fault. She tried to understand the way her mum thought. Susan did make excuses for her mistreatment by her mum because despite everything, she loved her mother dearly and there were moments within this mother and daughter relationship that was loving with happy cherished memories.

Ashley and Jason were happy with their life now but again with their ups and downs of life. Ashley was the eldest she had remembered a lot more about her childhood being the eldest. The raised temper of her dad and what would happen when her dad was angry. This was the main reason why Ashley was not that close to her dad, it was hard to forgive let alone forget, as her dad did not acknowledge what he done wrong in the beginning or say sorry for how he treated his kids or their mother, which made it hard to forgive and forget. Ashley like, with Diane these painful hurtful memories would shape her life and as a person. It was a settled time in their lives with Collin; he loved Ashley and her son very much, although he found it hard to express his love at times to Jason, he still loved Jason as his own child. Collin at times could not understand why Jason loved him as a father figure and Ashley was so in love with him. Sometimes feeling he did not deserve this love as his own father was such a wonderful father, he never thought he could be as good, caring and loving as his own father and was his own biggest critic which would create it’s own problems down the line in this for now happy relationship. Collin also liked Ashley’s parents and got on well with them, he looked up to Susan a lot admired her family values, the person she was and thought she had a lot of courage with strength to get through and deal with the traumatic experiences in her life that Ashley had told him about. Collin had well and truly been accepted into the fold, he became close to Sarah as well, knowing that Ashley was her biological mum.

Diane was taking each day as it came. The family had found out that she had a nasty experience as a child that a child should not have to go through or even know about! It had affected her teenager years including her adult life as the scars of what happened would not heal. Diane had worked but she was beginning to get nightmares about her past horrific experience in addition other issues, which in the end manifested itself into depression, she was off work due to her depression that had engulfed her life. The family supported Diane as much as they could. Sarah felt angry with the perpetrator, hurting her big sister when Diane was a innocent child and innocence been taken away through what happened, another reason Sarah hated boys especially men only trusted the men in her family and thought that men outside of the family were out for one thing and one thing only. Sarah knew that something bad had happened to Diane when she was a kid, she could sense it and hoped it would not rule her sister’s life, that one day her sister would get better and fight back. Diane was not Sarah’s strong, happy confident big sister like that anymore, as it was chipping away at Diane in front of her family’s eyes powerless to stop it, eating away from within. This awful ordeal of her sister Diane had in a way affected her younger sister Sarah, not realising she too had locked away a nasty experience herself, not yet risen to the surface.

Antony was too young when his dad would show his temper to his mum and in his adults years could not remember, some of these bad memories, his mind locking away some of these awful memories for self preservation. He was the middle child, his memories of his childhood and teenage years were faded. Sarah was told by the family the way her dad was, as this family had always been honest with Sarah including Michael and Susan’s issues, the adoption along with other thoughts and feeling her family faced, sometimes bluntly honest with each other at times. Sarah although it was true, she found it extremely hard to believe that her dad was like that in the past, yeah her dad was not perfect by any means. She could remember her parents having real bad arguments but it hard to hear how bad it got in the past between her mum and dad. However, their marriage was not all doom and gloom in the beginning, there were happy times.

Sarah had the relationship with her dad that his own children wished they could have had but did not, especially Ashley, as she was a daddy’s girl like Sarah. In some ways, Ashley resented her daughter for having that relationship that she never had but never blamed Sarah. It was not her fault, Antony felt a little resentment too not as much. Diane was always a mummy’s girl anyway. It did not matter so much to her that Sarah had this close relationship with her dad. The resentment Ashley, Antony and Diane felt they did hide it from Sarah, as she was just a child but when Sarah got older and this gift of hers grew, her sixth sense; she could feel it and blamed herself for it. Even seen some of the bad memories that Susan, Ashley, Antony and Diane faced looking into their sad eyes sometimes, feeling the overpowering raw emotions of the past, again seeing things she did not want to see, through the eyes of others, tapping into the past. Sarah did not want to be her dad’s favourite, it felt worse to a degree as really she was his granddaughter. Sarah was only his daughter because of the adoption. She felt guilt, it hurt that they felt that way but hiding it from her, although she understood why. Sarah hated herself that she was the cause of this upset, she hating hurting anyone most of all her family, the people she loved. Sarah could not understand it either. She did not think she was worth it, put so high on this pedestal by her dad.

Michael was doing fine still working at the same place he had worked all his life. The old house was quieter now with just him there. No kids to echo through the house like that as his grown up children did not visit the old family home like that, as they would see their dad up their mum’s flat, apart from Sarah who still visited the old family home. However, he had got used to living on his own and enjoyed the freedom to do as he pleased ‘he could do what he wanted with no nagging wife, on his case,’ he thought with a smile, although at times he did miss the noise of a warm family home, it was too quiet at times and reminded him. He was on his own and felt a sense of loneliness.

The ghost of Edward was not really interested in Michael as he was a man and did not believe in things that go bump in the night. Michael did hear the footsteps at night from time to time but did not take any notice. He tried to rationalise the strange sounds in his mind and put did it down to ‘old houses make strange noises because the house is old,’ he would say to himself or his family, although the house was not that old really up to some old houses. The house was about 48 years old. The previous house before ‘Mr Edward Carter’s house!’ was a very old house. The ghost of Anna would not talk to Sarah’s dad, he was a man. Anna was still around but was kept away from anyone to hear her plea. She desperately wished to be with her mother but not allowed, even in death Edward felt the need to control all around him. While there was love, there was strength through positive energy rather than negative energy. This strong natural love of a mother’s love, a chance for his secrets to unfold, he had to keep them apart, feeding this house with his evilness, a destructive powerful force that would never leave HIS house, that he laid claim to. He could and would not let his hidden life come out as even in death his circle was still strong and able to harm, even more so now in the afterlife; still very much delving into the dark arts, satisfying his thrust for power and with no remorse of sick ghoulish deeds when he was alive. Laughing and mocking at the suffering and abuse at his hand, still no one brave or daring enough to challenging him not even the ghost of his past, the key between the past and present. Having said that at the time the person in question had no idea that he or she was the ghost of Edward Carter’s past when he was alive himself!

The rest of the family was well. Emily was doing fantastically for her self, she had become manager in the supermarket that she worked in, she was happy with her life and her daughter was doing well at school. Peter her husband had always worked on the trains all his life, which was good as it meant that his family went on the trains for free. They were always going away on short trips to the coast or the countryside. Emily favourite place was Scotland. They would often go on holidays up to Scotland, she had often said one day, she would move up there when she was retired. Although her husband Peter would retire first as he was 8 years older than Emily was.

Everyone was getting on with their lives and doing well, the past seemed to be the past now between Susan, her brothers and sister. Susan’s friends Maggie and Keith Barns or just Maggie would still visit her from time to time to see how she was and a catch up, asking how the rest of the family were doing, Susan would ask how her friends were doing and their family! Maggie would always come with cakes that she had made or had brought from the local bakery Mountstevens. Susan would enjoy the catch up, it was company she loved having family and friends around. Always, made everyone who knew her or friends with her welcome with her caring smile being the warm and caring person she was.

Susan’s kids were getting on with their lives Ashley, Antony, Diane, Sarah and even Jason had scars from the past, that pain would surface at times but they all had each other for support, which made in one sense a strong family with battle wounds from the hard trails of life but still surviving, even though sometimes only just surviving. This family would suffer other hardships through out their lives. This family was a complex and tormented one, a problem and troubled family but did try to treat people how they would wish to be treated themselves a value that Susan had always tried to teach her children and it was the way she ran her life too. Knowing that you are remember for what kindness you show others, not for what you look like, the money you have or what you do as a job! This thinking would be one of the things they remembered about their mum. This influenced their lives in a positive way, as they tried to be like their mum growing up in trying to show the same kindness to others as their mum did, Susan was a wise, knowledgeable Lady with years of life skills that only be lived not taught. She might not had the top grades at school because of her childhood and bullying, so she missed her education a little but she was far from stupid!

There was bad news to come for the family with the cold bitterness of winter. Antony and Susie were not getting on well. On the surface of this marriage all seemed fine but looks can be deceiving. Antony wanted out of the marriage and so did Susie, they cared for each other but not in love. They were too young really, they both thought that they were in love but this was an illusion. Susie promised that their divorce would not stop her from seeing the rest of Antony’s family. She was close to Antony’s family especially Susan and Sarah. In February of that month, they had filed for a divorce. The divorce came through fairly quickly, it took a few months as Antony was caught out cheating on Susie with another women. She found them together. Antony was sorrier that she had found out, not about the act itself. Therefore, he agreed that this to be used as the reason why Susie agreed to the divorce.

Antony carried on seeing this woman after they were divorced and during these proceedings. Her name was Stacey Holmes; she was about 3 years younger than Antony. She was well aware at the time of the affair that Antony was married but she knew that Antony and his wife were not getting on. He had said he was planning in leaving his wife and Antony wished to be with Stacey instead, although they loved each other, they were not in love with each other. Antony’s family found out about this affair and that was another reason for this divorce as however unhappy about Antony and what he had done, if he did not want to be with Susie it was unfair stringing her along, if he wanted to be with someone else his mum told him.

Susan and Michael were not happy with their son. Susie was a lovely person and did not deserve that, cheated on by Antony. Susan and the rest of the family did not really get on with Stacey she was a girl of two sides, a little materialistic but a sense of humour. This is something that the family would have to get use to it. Antony had made his choice the family just had to put up with his decision, even though they did not agree with his decision. Susie was very upset by Antony moving on so quick with his new life with this other woman, having said that the divorce was a mural agreement but it was painful, as the majority of the time they are!

Antony and Susie knew that this was going to happen before Susan and Sarah moved but they wanted to wait until Susan and Sarah had moved to tell them the sad news, pretending that all was fine a happily married couple. Antony and Susie felt that Susan and Sarah had been through so much, they wanted to wait until the pair of them was more settled in the flat before telling them this sad news which would upset them. Susan realised that at the house warming Antony and Susie seemed distant. Now she understood why this was the real reason for this. She did wish that they could tell her then and been honest. Susan did feel a little upset by the pair of them lying but she did understand why at that time, they did not say anything; it was to protect them. It was a little white lie!

Chapter 2

S arah and her mum were getting on well at the flat. Susan was getting more confident in venturing out on her own or with someone to give her support. She was healing slowly a more each day, after her break down and depression. The move had helped with that getting away from the past problems with her marriage along with her tormented childhood and teenage years now able to look to the future a little that looked slightly brighter rather than bleak. Sarah had started to accept and feel happier about her mum and dad splitting up; after all her dad still came to visit everyday, as the flat was not far from the old family home. So it felt like they were still together in one sense. Most of the time he would come over for tea, stay a few hours and leave between 8 and 9pm to take a slow walk home. It was great seeing her dad everyday but without the heated arguments because her mum and dad did not live together, it curved the rows.

It was hard at first for Michael and Susan’s kids to accept that their parents was separated but they understood that something had to be done. The arguments that were becoming more and more frequent as they did years ago in the beginning of this marriage was not a healthy environment for this marriage or for Sarah to grow up in and of course it was not safe with the hauntings becoming more threatening. In a way also affecting this marriage and adding to the pressure this marriage was under, amplifying everything that had been wrong with this marriage. The ghost of Edward even then in the background enjoyed watching the terrible events in this marriage the raised temper of Michael towards his wife Susan with the children witness to these tempers that their mother had to injure and on occasions even the kids themselves was at the centre of his temper. The ghost of Edward found it amusing, something he could use, by the time Sarah had come along those terrible rages of temper had subsides as Michael temperament had mellowed. She knew from the family that her dad was once like this and it was still hard for her to get her head around that fact. However, she knew it to be true as she could see it in her mind through Diane, Ashley, Antony and Susan’s eyes, could see these raw emotions her mind picked up on horrible images of their tormented childhood. It was better that Susan and Michael separated than stay together and risk the marriage ending up like it used to be in the beginning with Michael’s temper or in the divorce courts, as it was getting that way between them, as although they had put the past behind them. The house, the venomous ghost of Edward and the past painful memories of the Jones family that echoed in that house would have torn the family to shreds, broken beyond repair. The family had wounds that would probably never heal but it was not shattered completely.

Ashley, Antony and Diane were getting on with their lives, Susan thought her grown up children were getting on ok but all three had their own scars of life, that they hid from their mum for a time, so not to worry her. Antony was having problems in his relationship with Susie unknown to his mum at first, until it came out and they divorced. Diane had personal scars of a nasty experience when she was a child that was affecting her adult years through bad dreams as her locked away bad memory was starting to surface but in secret for a long time before anyone found out. Ashley had scars being the eldest and had witness her dad’s temper as a child and could remember the arguments and the aggression of those heated moments, along with getting pregnant at a young age with Sarah and giving her up to her parents to give her daughter a better life. After that being in a violent and aggressive relationship herself and then being a single young mum with Jason but she was moving on with her life with a glimmer of hope, of happiness for Ashley and Jason.

Sarah was finding it tough in school, feeling even more different from all that had happened in the old house as now she could reflect on all that had happened and realised just how hostile things were getting and how deadly dangerous, if they had stayed someone, probably herself could of got seriously hurt or worse. The ghost of Edward had started to threaten Sarah’s family on several occasions too in the end. At school, she did not fit in with these kids! She felt that in one respect she had nothing in common with these children. The other kids would talk about music and gossip about the other kids or things that they had, like the latest gadget. In one sense, Sarah felt confused and out of touch with the world, she was living in, disjointed to that era she was apart of and the computer age that was coming, she enjoyed and felt more comfortable with the simple things in life. She felt that people were complex in their own little bubble at times, she felt uncomfortable around strangers and found it hard to trust.

Through her family’s complications, her experiences in the old house and her childhood, she was with knowledge about life beyond her years in some ways also through her gift giving her a different take on life to most children. Sarah was as sensitive as ever, sometimes feeling things about people, the raw emotion behind their smiles, through their eyes and into memories with things that once was and that are, through scuttle hints to herself like clues as she got older this gift would grow and what was a gift would be in some regards a curse! As she saw the good but also bad things from within, seeing all but saying nothing;

Sarah also had nothing to show off and she just so happened to escape from a haunted house with an evil entity that tried to kill her and a spirit of little girl, that was her best friend. She was worlds apart from the other kids and she felt it. She did not think she was better than anyone else was in fact, she felt everyone was better than she was; she was beneath them, not worthy. Sarah still felt misplaced in some way; she did not belong to this time, year on year this feeling growing stronger. Sarah was quiet, reserved and shy. The other kids again would tease her, as she was quiet and did not have a big mouth or gossip about things or stick up for her self; she was not aggressive person; she felt uncomfortable around confrontational situations and would clam up if confronted with that sort of situation, she could not hurt anyone, even if they hurt her. Sarah hated mental or physical violence in any form. Sarah seen and felt the consequences of these negative acts, the horrific mental and physical pain these actions can cause.

Sarah’s one and only friend Tracy Kindle at school moved away and went to a different school. It seemed when she got close to someone, they would die or move away or not want to bother as soon as someone better and confident more interesting came along or promise her something only to take it away and her to feel disappointment. Sometimes thinking that maybe she was the problem why people left her life. Sarah at times put up a wall to her emotions from her teenage years so no one would see them or hurt them and put on a false smile, making everyone think she was doing fine, having a laugh as it were! Having said that her humour did get her through some tough times along with her being very down to earth person. This side to her personality was going to help her get through some up and coming tough issues, as they say ‘always look on the bright side of life, don’t worry be happy.’ She would try to think to herself and knowing that she did not have the worse childhood as there was suffering all over the world, she tried to keep life in perspective.

Sarah stayed over with her dad some weekends on a Friday at the old house or just went over for tea and return home later that evening with her dad. It felt strange being in that house but not apart of the old house anymore. Anna never spoke to her like that when Sarah moved away, Sarah was not to sure why! She felt that Anna could not or would not speak to her. Unknowing to Sarah at the time in a way the ghost of Anna was not speaking to protect her friend Sarah from her father, Anna knowing that the more they spoke the more he would haunt Sarah. This was upsetting for Sarah that she could not seem to be able to speak to her friend that helped her through so much when she was living at the house. She missed her friend so very much, still feeling that she had let Anna down by moving away. Edward was still there too as well with his daughter, still keeping a watchful eye on Sarah! It was quiet still at the flat no hauntings or feeling scared but this was not to last, as it was the information tucked away deep in Sarah’s subconscious that was a problem at least for one person? Unawares to herself, she knew the truth deep down, to all her unanswered questions, always did! Anna’s father knew this too; this was the reason why he had such a keen interest on her and why she was more of a target of his terrifying hauntings.

Sarah was hoping her life would be relatively normal now with the move, apart from hating school. Unfortunately, Sarah was not a normal girl, more than she realised, so maybe not! She was soon to learn this bit by bit as the pieces of this bizarre twisted puzzle moulds together, as her teenage years were to roll by with each piece, learning a little more about herself and possible answers she needed. This is where she would need her strength, humour and different outlook on life to get through of what was yet to come. Some pretty tough times that would test her inner strength in every way and she would have to do this alone to keep the people she loved safe. No Anna or family to give her encouragement and comfort to the challenges that she faced ahead. Nevertheless, she did have the strength to face them when the time was right!

At this point, most of the rest of the family were doing well! Ashley was still getting on well with her boyfriend, who was a really nice guy, Collin Wilkinson, he was affectionate and caring man, with a naughty laugh that would make you laugh, always trying to look on the lighter side of life with his witty humour and infectious smile. He did except the fact that she was a mother with a boy and they came as a package. Diane had started to see Sean again her ex-boyfriend as a friend, nothing else. The family were not too happy about that, as he never treated Diane that brilliantly when they were going out but it was her life. They somewhat reluctantly, respected her wishes. Diane wanted to try to put her past experiences out of her mind, trying to have some sort of normality. Hopefully not let her depression that she suffered rule her life anymore, trying to fight back the evil demons of her past. This was easier said than done, some memories too terrible to just forget and heal from, again scars too deep and embedded deep within.

Susan’s brother and sister were still happy as ever. Susan’s older brother Harry was doing well for himself too in New Zealand, happily married man with a daughter Cathy and twin boys on the way, their names were Bill and Ned. Harry was happy living in New Zealand even though it was far from where he grew up. He had moved on and had his own family now, he still kept in touch but not that often as it cost a small fortune to call from all that way. Susan was glad he was doing well but she still was not close to him, to much water under the bridge as they say, there are just some things, which cannot be forgiven because of the deep routed pain that he had caused Susan in her childhood and teenager years. Harry was not the big, supportive and protective brother that he should have been for Susan.

Michael was doing fine in the old house on his own; he would be there for another 11 years before he actually moved away. It was lonely at night, when he went to bed but in the day and early evening he was fine with work, then off to see his daughter or she would stay with him or come over for tea then return home. He had the odd strange unexplainable experience like things would be relocated in the house or Sarah’s bedroom door would open slightly be itself, even when all windows were closed, so there was no draft like that coming in to do this. Michael would think it was odd but would think nothing more of it. He never told anyone of these odd experiences, kept it to him self. Still denying any ghostly activity, in denial of what strange and frightening events had happened to Sarah even though he was there, when it was bad with his daughters Sarah, along with Diane and son Antony experiences that they had as children as he still tried to rationalise what happened in that house, the ghoulish experiences that his kids faced! It could be explained away by logical explanation in his eyes.

Chapter 3

T he months of that year seemed to roll by with the move and things happening within the family, good and bad things! It was spring now with the warm afternoons accompanied with the odd shower with cold mornings and evenings, the evenings getting longer with it getting lighter earlier in the mornings. Easter would soon be upon them and two weeks off school for Sarah and Jason. Lots of chocolate and an Easter egg hunt which Susan arranged with Ashley at the flat. The week leading up to Easter went by very fast; thank goodness for Sarah, for her it was two weeks off the torment that the school kids would put her through, most days. This was still going on undetected by her parents, as she kept her constant bullying a secret, her mum was happy, she could not take that away from her, so she suffered alone, trying to be tough and brave.

Easter always felt a strange time for Sarah from about the age of 5 years old she had images in her head. Like lost memories that, Sarah did not understand at the time. This was of herself as a child merrily walking up to the park along a long row of houses she recognised now to be Fishponds before the Cross Hands Pub but the area was different, older like set in a different time. No cars but horses and carriages with herself and her dearest friend Anna with two Ladies or one Lady and a man wearing what look like mid-late high middle class Victorian clothing. It felt like, this was a regular thing that they did, for that time of year. It felt like a religious time. Like for that period in time, religion was important to the way of life to this community, like going to church on a Sunday, which in the Victorian times for people going to church was important. These feelings always left her feeling confused because it made her feel happy with a warm glow inside! Reminiscing on a happy life that never was or maybe it was a life, who knows!

Sarah and Jason enjoyed their Easter Sunday with the family; it was a glorious lovely sunny days with sounds of the birds chirping, nature coming out from the long cold winter months. Jason was outside kicking his football about as hard as he could with his granddad, of course kicking with force so it would go miles away from his granddad so he would have to run after it, while Susan was cooking the roast dinner for them all. The rest of the family watched telly intensely. The Walton’s was on, the normal Sunday telly. Hilary was there too, to have some Sunday dinner. It was a lovely happy day for all, Diane helped with the roast and Michael did the gravy as he always did. The roast was lovely and for that day, it felt like old times, when everyone was happy in this family. Sarah was beaming with smiles feeling the laughter and happiness from her family, this feeling felt nice and warm like the spring sun shinning in upon Sarah’s pale skin on her face. ‘This was once again a strong family, not even Edward’s ghost could take that away,’ Sarah thought to herself, ‘this was the start of good times!’ she thought. Maybe a turning point for this family, a new chapter had begun!

This family however did have other worries. Hilary was becoming increasingly forgetful. So much so that her family were starting to worry about her and her safety, she was forgetting to turn off her cooker now and again; she would remember in the end but then do, or forget other things that posed a risk to her safety. If this continued and became worse, Susan and her family would have to make a big decision to look after Hilary either themselves or take her to a home, as she would posse a danger to herself and others. This was the beginning of Alzheimer’s; the doctors already had their suspicions, she was due for more tests to determine this at the time, she was at the time 80 years old, so it was a possibility.

By now Susie and Antony’s divorce had come through, in the month of May of that year Antony’s new girlfriend found out she was pregnant which even though they were no longer together this was upsetting for Susie as when they were married, they did try for a child but it was not to be. They had fertility issues. When Stacey realised she was pregnant, she about 4 weeks gone. They had not planned for children, so it came as a shock, even though they were not careful. Antony asked her to marry him, in trying to do the right thing by her and her family. They were unimpressed with this relationship of their daughter’s already, he cared about her, loved her in one way but not really in love with her as they had only been seeing each other for a short time. Stacey said yes again for the same reasons, doing the right thing by their unborn child. This relationship however would injure turbulent times in the future as they married for all the wrong reason but at the time, it seemed the right thing to do.

It soon to be Sarah’s 11th birthday in a few weeks time, that year it was to be a quiet celebration, just the family, Sarah’s mum, her dad, Ashley, Jason and Diane. No big party as Susan was struggling with money due to the move as she still was trying to get the flat up together, a single mother on income support with bills to pay and food to put on the table. Susan was still unable to work due to her past with the ergophobia and depression that had plagued her life; the scars of childhood and teenage years with her sever bullying at school. The family issues with her older brother, what he put her through as a young teenager, loss of her little boy and the abuse that Diane went through. The issues with her marriage with Michael’s temper at the beginning of their marriage, of course the old house and ghostly hauntings with what her daughter Sarah had gone through.

Sarah knew all that her mother had been through as did the rest of her children. Susan was always very honest with her daughter with her past. Sarah thought that her mum was wonderful and tough more than her mum knew with what she had been through and alive to tell the tale. Sarah looked up to her mum in a way aspired to be like her with her warm kind