Faces of Inhumanity

Chapter 1

1

Where shall I start? So much has happened since the events of the demonic presence that had plagued my aunt’s manor. You see, it was these events that fueled a curiosity within myself and Mary. Originally, I must admit, I had a repulsion to such a haunting. Yet, in the time that slowly passed into the summer of 1853, I had many thoughts that dwelt upon the idea of demons and such entities. This later evolved into an obsession to understand the darkest reaches of the afterlife and spirits that rested in such places. So many questions that begged my mind for answers, but no answers that could be logically sound. I would venture so far as to say without the support of Percy and his family, I would not have succeeded in fighting off the demonic incursion.

Lessons relegated to an ancient tome that speaks of wondrous and frightful creatures of both good and evil, yet simply stories still. I shall state, however, this life that is now lived is nothing like any life that Mary and I could have possibly dreamed. It is the life that has brought fulfillment, I will admit. I also must question what would cause any sane man to give up a life of comfort and wealth within a career that could launch anyone further than he dreamed? What sort of man would continue to subject himself and his wife to a life of strife by dealing with the demons of others? I have assured myself, time and time again, that I am no longer logical or sound of mind. Yet I still freely choose the life I now live.

Mary has been supportive of any decision that I would have made for our

endeavors. Which, I suppose, shows that we are like-minded in our investigations. Yet she still has her desire to pursue a career by day. Though there have been sacrifices that she has willingly made. Words cannot describe how supportive and dependable Mary has been without respite. Yet again, I must focus on the forward progress of my endeavors. It all began once Mary and I had arrived in New York. It was a series of words spoken by a passenger waiting for the train to travel to the New York City platform. I believe it was a woman and her husband seated against the white timber outer wall of the ticket office. Her husband was reading a current edition of the local newspaper and didn’t seem to regard his wife in the least. As Mary and I passed them, their faint words could be heard.

“According to our gazette, honey, Spiritualism may be a faster growing belief than we had thought before.”

It was this statement that I could not have realized would pique my interest and come back to me in stalwart recollection. Like a pulsing screech in the inner recesses of my mind or a voice calling from deep within. I knew not what impact this event would have on me, though I often wondered if it was the same for Mary as well. Mary and I continued to stroll to the end of the building, mainly to stretch our legs after a long train ride to this platform. It felt good to take in the fresh air and see the sights that were now passing in the blink of an eye. Though, for me, these were the sights that I had witnessed on my fore mentioned journey. North Carolina had been a beauty for my eye to behold, but nothing like the sights that Mary and I were

absorbing now, however. Yet, in some ways, I preferred North Carolina; the natural beauty of the endless forests had been refreshing. Something as such was welcomed due to the reduction in population and a few large structures stole my eyes from the landscape’s beauty. Although some cities are beautiful in themselves, even with such a stark contrast to forests and rolling hills.

Reaching the end of the platform, I could see the track leading my eyes into the distance. Each side of the track was lined with dense forest. All the vegetation was a beautiful, verdant color. Each leaf was a deep or bright green, with the darker leaves just behind the brighter leaves. This was a beautiful contrast that pleased my eyes as the trees stood tall and mighty against the sky. Their branches went in all directions and all met at a trunk that was larger than most trees that I had ever seen. While other branches hung down over the tracks in a thick curtain of grayish-brown and green. There was just enough space for a train to gently ride through the forest. Even above the trees, the sky was a deep blue, as if an ocean rolling above my head. Small and medium clouds hung gently in the breeze and seemed to glide slowly and gracefully across the sky while the day held a gentle heat with a light but immersive breeze.

Mary and I were relieved that the weather was stable and we were not met with a stiff wind. This would have made our travel unbearable, though I was sure that northern-bound tracks would see worse weather. As for now, the Southern New York-Yonkers platform was a welcomed sight. Mary had been relaying to me the notion of train travel being harmful to her usual lifestyle of being able to walk anywhere she liked. She had complained of her feeling bored, but most that her legs had become stiff, even despite our walking the length of the train. I had worried that this factor would deter Mary from riding trains in the future. What would follow would leave us with great difficulty when vacationing, but I did wonder about visiting Mary’s family in the future. As I stood on the edge of the platform, my deep contemplation was broken by Mary’s words. “What time is our departure, my love?” Mary asked, causing me to notice how refreshing her voice was to my ears.

I instantly awoke from my trance and could see Mary standing across from me on the other side of the platform. She was twisting her body back and forth slowly with her right leg tucked behind her left leg. She was gorgeous against the forest setting behind her and her dress, being a rosy color, was complemented by her shoulder-length brown hair. She had c****d her head slightly forward and was gazing at me with wondrous and gentle hazel eyes. A smile was gently placed below her eyes, her lips so soft and inviting were parted ever so slightly. Her whole appearance at this moment gave me pause. The woman before my eyes knew how to engage me in the most spectacular ways. Her catty nature, mixed with a voice that reminds me of a breeze whispering through a meadow, added to the experience. Each word gently arose to my ears and seemed to kiss my eardrum with the softest regard. She had the voice of an angel who had never risen to heaven.

“Yes, my dear,” I replied. “Our departure is promptly at 2 PM.”

Mary then asked, “And our time now?”

I looked to my left and up slightly to the clock that hung on the side post of the ticket-box office, each hand moving calculatedly in a race around an endless track of numbers.

“Currently, I can see 1:35 PM, my love,” I replied.

Mary seemed disturbed by this answer as she stared from the platform to the tracks below.

“I feel that we have been at this station for hours. Could time pass any slower?” Mary looked up to meet my eyes as she finished this statement.

We both chuckled, yet we seemed to both be thinking the same thing. If only our train had not split off from our schedule to deliver cargo to Buffalo, New York. Though it seems to be a waste as New York City is along the way. I do hope that the next train is scheduled to travel to the great city, otherwise, there will be more delay.

“I am sorry, my dear,” I stated. “I have not dealt with delays before as most of the trips that I have taken ensured my train traveling directly to New York City.”

Mary asked, “Do you think that something could have gone wrong?”

I replied, “I doubt it, my wife. If there had been a change in the train schedules, then we would’ve been informed when we arrived. I would say that this platform is having a delay with the engine being loaded with freight. Then the train arrives at our location promptly but partially loaded with freight from another area. I suspect this would speed freight delivery to places like Buffalo.”

Mary looked down the platform that we stood upon and I could see her mind turning my statements over and over. At some point, her thoughts had concluded.

“Benjamin, my love, how is it that you are so easily capable of making new possibilities available to me? Never have I met a man who has pushed me to consider all possibilities.”

While Mary spoke these words, she closed the distance and placed her hands on my chest. She leaned in and kissed me so passionately that I couldn’t help but feel a rush of stimulation slowly creep up from my chest and rise to the crown of my head.

Though I could not see my face, I knew that I was smiling ear to ear, but try as I might, I couldn’t stop my emotions from showing. Not that I would wish to be stony or cold to anyone. I just think of myself as a more reserved person and Mary had come into my life, I believed, to change everything.

“My wife, I am more than a mere man, yet I have come down to inspire you in flesh form,” I stated with a large smile.

Mary nodded with a very playful smile on her face as I took her hand and we began strolling slowly down the platform to find a seat. The other passengers had crowded around the ticket box, with some passengers seated on the far side of the platform as we had. Yet each group seemed to form little herds and only associated with others if approached. Otherwise, everyone else seemed extremely inviting. Group after group of passengers passed by as we strolled as swiftly and gracefully as possible, moving through each group of passengers only when no other option presented itself.

Everyone seemed to be dressed to impress others in their expensive dresses flowing in the breeze, fine suits made of different silks, and each passenger wore a hat of some sort. From taller stove-pipe hats to a shorter bowler style, some hats with wider brims and some with more narrow brims but all colors of fabric were represented. After we had passed the last group of passengers closest to the ticket office, we beheld an empty seat. No one seemed to be focused on finding a seat other than us, so we helped ourselves. Mary turned and began taking her seat beside me gracefully, sweeping her dress out and under her legs as she then took her seat.

It was then that an amusing thought crossed my mind and I turned my head toward where Mary was seated with a twisted half smile forming on my face.

“Mary, my dear, do you find it difficult to sit down in a beautiful dress such as yours?” I asked, still smiling with a devious look.

She replied without hesitation, “I do. I think any woman would since we are forbidden in a lot of cases from voicing any opinion on the matter.”

I smiled wider, “Perhaps you could try pants for a change.”

Without question, Mary replied, “I would love to, Benjamin, but as I have said, it wouldn’t be proper!”

It was at this point that the realization set in about what I was trying to accomplish.

“Benjamin Price! I do not think your sick taunts are humorous! I forbid you from trapping me with your words again! Otherwise, you shall find yourself quite seldom!” With these words, Mary turned her head away and refused to speak. I knew better than to be loud with any laughter, so I chuckled as quietly as I could to myself.

“I can hear you giggling like a schoolboy, Benjamin! I suppose you are rather pleased with yourself! Do you value my desires and passions so minimally?”

I gazed at Mary with blank eyes and a full smile.

“It isn’t that that I hold no value for your desires and certainly not your passions, my wife. I sometimes long to jest with you in my way, but it isn’t to make you feel like someone less just to make you laugh.”

Mary stared into my eyes with a look of deep annoyance. She replied with a blank face, “Then, if you wish to amuse me, maybe you should give a dress a try. That would be the only way that something like this would amuse me.” Mary giggled about this thought for a moment, as did I.

The time now seemed to pass slowly, extremely slow, in fact, as Mary and I continued to sit. We talked about the events of the day, and I had even begun to explain the finer points of life within the city. I thought that it would be exceptionally helpful because Mary had never resided in such a place. Larger populations seemed to shock anyone when they first arrived in New York City, and I wished to ensure that Mary would have the best and strongest chance of settling into a life in the grand city. So, in time, I had begun to explain everything that I could about this lifestyle, to which Mary seemed the utmost eager to learn all that she could.

I was astonished at her ability to receive information so readily that it seemed she gave no resistance. She also didn't offer anything in the way of resistance to the content of my message to her either. I supposed that she saw my words as no threat to her, her passions, or her intelligence. Instead, she absorbed everything that I had to say; her eyes did not once drift from my gaze, even when covering the subject of different groups that called the city home. Many failed to understand the city was home to many that the world had forgotten. Those that did not belong elsewhere or were the type of people that abandoned their countries of origin for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Each had come to claim one thing; freedom.

Above all else, freedom was able to be obtained on the shores of New York, though others sought to destroy this. Anarchists, thieves, and politicians are all seeking to take freedom from all who obtain it. People would not be oppressed so easily, however, as I believed in my heart that even New Yorkers wouldn’t give up their freedoms. No one could begin to understand the vastness of the culture of New York City as people wondered about it at any hour that they wished. Many a late evening out courting their future brides, still others seeking relaxation with spirits and strolls about the parks. Most people out by day strolling the streets, heading to work or seeking the day’s work independently and churches witnessing to their flock.

Anyone could even find commerce on any street at most hours of the day.

Especially in the high towns, which were areas known for patrons with unlimited wealth and reach. Workers pass in the streets with carts full of materials, building the city from ground to sky. Forming the framework of modern society and crafting such impressive structures or adding to existing ones. Seldom did this form of labor cease as workmen were in short supply and building projects were far too numerous.

This was the way of an ever-expanding city; this and other factors would drive anyone mad, especially when many have no point of reference. Nowhere in the world could there be a life such as this and I have even heard from colleagues within the great cities of London, Paris, and even Berlin; yet all are flabbergasted by the depth of American ingenuity. This was the underlying factor of immense awe that many felt when traveling to New York City. Mary absorbed the endless amount of information that I could share and she did not look away or ask any questions. No, she just sat listening to my words with the most eager expression, yet I could see that Mary had accepted that her life was going to change forever.

In my younger days, I journeyed to the city with certain expectations. Many of these expectations gave me pause and seemed to disappoint me; this was only because I couldn’t fathom the depth of life within New York City. Yet nothing could have been more interesting and instead of further study, I was met with an opportunity to start work immediately. Also, the chance to further my career without needing to study as hard as others. Moving into the city seemed to launch my life in a much more positive direction. I seemed to have success being presented to me in every direction that I would turn.

This was the world that I had understood would be best for my wife and children. Farm life was not a life that Mary had desired. Perhaps she didn’t know what she truly wanted for her life, but she knew her life was not meant to include farming. The day continued to pass rather slowly, but after some time, Mary and I had begun to ponder if the train would ever arrive. Just as this thought had passed my lips and Mary agreed, the train whistle could be heard. There was a faint screeching further down the track as everyone began moving into lines and awaiting the train to open its doors. Many tucked their kids close to them and began checking their luggage, while others seemed to not pay the train any mind. It was as if these passengers were locked in an eternal gossip, left to stand on the platform in segregation.

Mary and I grasped our luggage from the middle of the platform and began to wait as well, but something still drew my gaze to the still conversing passengers. Yet I refused to turn my head and look as if I did not know what force wished me to turn my attention to these passengers, but the attraction grew stronger. Instead, I kept my gaze upon Mary and tried with all that I had in me to hear her words, but I could hear nothing. It was as if I had fallen into a pool of water which was distorting all sound from my hearing while my sight had become a blur. I felt as though someone was staring right through me from behind and this feeling continued until the train had pulled into position.

At this moment, I began to follow Mary, but everything slowed to a crawl; it was as if I could hear voices in my mind. They drowned out all other sounds as if nothing else could be heard above the roar of numerous voices. Some were laughing and some were simply talking about many different things, but almost as if different conversations were being carried on at the same time. I could not pinpoint any one conversation or word while this feeling rose until I couldn’t resist it any longer. I began turning my head in the direction of the conversing passengers and noticed they were now huddled together as if sharing a secret. I approached the train door at an angle that gave me a perfect view of this mass of passengers. Just as I had been able to focus on each member of this group, they stopped what they were doing.

Their heads snapped up and then turned to look back at me with the most sinister grin on their faces which left me alarmed but curious. I couldn’t look away, but it was more as if I could not turn my head rather than not wanting to turn my head. I met eyes with the closest male passenger, who maintained his startling grin and nodded his head toward me slowly while they all began to fade. They vanished before my very eyes, leaving me with the desire to continue to watch until they had completely faded. It was at this time I had reached the train, but time was still passing slowly as I looked up to meet Mary’s gaze. She was already most of the way up the steps of the passenger car as time began to resume its normal flow in a blur of motion.

“Did you spy that group, dear?” I asked.

Mary gazed into my eyes with a most puzzled look on her face. “I witnessed nothing.” She replied.

I turned and pointed to where the huddle of passengers had stood.

She replied, “What, my love?”

I remarked cautiously, “Other passengers were standing right there. They vanished before my very eyes.”

Before Mary could reply, the conductor asked to see our tickets. As I met his eyes and slowly reached into my pocket, I was startled to see anyone at this moment. I had a feeling that anyone besides myself, including Mary, was an illusion. Drifting into nothingness as if life itself were going to fade to reveal itself to be a lie. My senses could not be trusted at all, and I felt as if I were expecting the worst from anything and everything I beheld. Could it be that life was not real? Was there some grand illusion waiting to reveal itself? Should I trust myself to know what is real and what is fake? There seemed to be no way to test for any illusions, but I had an automatic knowing that I wouldn’t be met with success if I began testing life itself.

I reached into the deepest depths of my right pocket only to grasp a wafer-thin piece of paper. It was almost as if I had grasped a fake ticket, but I knew that I had purchased my tickets shortly after we had arrived. I pulled the tickets from my pocket and gave them to the conductor, who took them from my hand with a cautious motion. As he inspected my ticket, he seemed to be puzzled at the expression of questioning on my face, as if he knew that I was questioning reality

itself. Perhaps he was doing the same, or he saw the same thing and he wanted confirmation as I had. After a moment, however, he punched both tickets and said, “Come with me, sir, madam.”.

He then briefly met my gaze, then Mary’s and turned to lead us into the passenger car. We walked through the passenger car, moving past row after row of seats. Most were filled with passengers, but each seemed to celebrate the train’s arrival. Luggage had been tucked under the seats neatly and nothing seemed out of place. We continued to travel forward through the car and eventually reached the center of the car. Rows of windows flanked us on each side and the whole car was covered in a lavish deep blue and gold carpet. The windows to our left were that of a private compartment within the train car, and to our right, the windows allowed access to the outside world. The walls were paneled with what looked like finely carved mahogany, with each window holding the crest of the train company carved into the panel beneath it.

About halfway down the corridor, the conductor had come to a stop and stood in the corridor, holding out his right hand. He held his hand out to guide us into the compartment politely.

“This is your compartment, sir, madam. Enjoy your trip and let us know if you require anything,” he said.

Mary and I entered the compartment and immediately began settling in for the long journey. I then noticed that someone had set the table and placed refreshments on the side of the table closest to the window. Mary and I sat facing each other whilst admiring the world through our window. The world seemed to stand still from here as nothing moved and no one stood waiting on the platform. I could barely see the place where I had witnessed the other passengers vanish, but now it seemed normal, as if nothing had happened just moments before.

The feelings of confusion and alarm had now passed, yet I could picture the huddle of passengers staring at me. Their faces were accented by the creepiest smile I have ever witnessed from another human. Though I wouldn’t venture to classify anyone there as a human, I still couldn’t shake the thought that each one was still in their respective place. It seemed that my mind wished to simply think of these people as invisible, yet I had an intense feeling that no one in that wretched group had existed in the flesh for some time. I continued to stare outside for a few more moments, that is until I heard Mary’s voice, “Are you all right, my love?”.

Her words took some time to rouse me from my trance, but after a couple of minutes, I turned to see her leaning in the direction of the window as if trying to get in front of my eyes to block my vision or see what had my attention so strongly.

“Benjamin?” She queried.

I met her eyes with mine and replied, “Yes, my love?”.

Mary seemed extremely concerned. “You are a ghostly white, my dear. Is everything okay?”.

I nodded my head forward. “Yes. Everything is perfectly fine. I am just thinking.”

Mary began making herself tea from the hot water on the table, “Is this about the people that you saw outside?”.

I began to shake my head no but stopped suddenly, “No...I mean...Yes. Everything happened so quickly yet slowly at the same time.”

Mary looked on intently, “I am sorry, dear. I don’t mean to alarm you. I am probably just weary from so much travel.” I said calmly.

Mary thought for a moment. “Perhaps you should lie down for a moment in your seat.”.

I had no intention of resting, though I felt that I should do as Mary suggested and then decided that I couldn't ignore her input. After all, we still had several hours

before we were to reach the train station in the city. I followed Mary’s suggestion and began preparing my seat to be a makeshift bed. Then I reached into the cabinets above me and pulled down some blankets. Mary scooted out of her seat and pulled the shades closed on the doors to the cabin. I stood beside my seat and removed my jacket from over my vest, then removed my pocket watch from its resting place in my vest pocket and placed it on the table.

I unhooked the clip on the other end and laid the chain in a coil on the table. In what seemed like an instant, I was laying on my side in my seat and covering myself with the blankets that I had procured from the cabinets overhead. Mary sat silently in her seat. I could feel that she was concerned but didn't wish to push a confession from me. I slowly began to drift from consciousness as the world faded from my eyes then I saw only blackness. I began to feel as though I was drifting from the place where my body was located, as if being pulled into a void.

The feeling was different now, however, as it was not only my physical body being pulled but another portion of my person that had separated. My mind had become disturbed, but I could no longer stop myself at all in my vision unless this could be a dream. I could not wake myself nor force my body to move, almost as if I had been disconnected from my flesh and bone. Being forever cast adrift from myself. The world became darkness that I could not escape, and I was being pulled deeper into the void of this realm. My body lingered in the space of the living and remained in the seat on the train. My soul was drifting further away from this world and into nothingness. This feeling was stranger than I had ever known as it was not a feeling or knowing that connected me to any earthly realm. Yet a faint understanding of what was and what might be as well as what was to come. There was no worry, no pain, no strife, just emptiness, and I was alarmed at these new sensations, but there was nothing that could stop this now.

I opened my mouth to scream for Mary, but no sound could be heard as this void stifled every sound or feeling and grew larger as my mind drifted further away. I wanted to wake up from this world and escape this horror, but there was nothing that I could control or change. It was then that I looked into the void and saw bright stars and different colors, as if I had been pulled from the Earth completely. I was not traveling at any increasing rate yet simply drifting like a boat with no oars on a gentle pond. I looked back toward my body and began reaching

outward and calling out for Mary. There was no sound and no way that I could connect with this world. I then felt the world slip from my grasp until there was no warmth, no light, only the darkness that pulled me further inward. I turned and began to tumble toward the furthest point of this realm, and I imagined that this is what it would be like to fall from the sky.

Even with all that was happening, nothing here felt real in the slightest, as I had been cast into an endless sea without anything to save me. Now that sea had changed to falling toward oblivion. I could feel panic and fear that seemed to instantly wash over me but seemed to not have a source either within or without. I grasped forward and reached as far as I could, but there was nothing solid to grasp or stop myself from drifting further. I looked back toward the world that I had seemingly fallen from originally. Not even a memory of what the world was or how it had left me behind.

I was alone and with no way back from this endless darkness, yet this feeling of fear began to grow more and more until I became overcome with this same fear. I looked down again and began to see it, the face from Caroline’s manor. It was rushing toward me as quickly as it could with teeth bared and malice in its burning eyes. I was struck with terror now that gripped my heart and seemed to invade my very soul. I felt as if I were being devoured by this evil and entertained that I was surely dreaming as this entity had been defeated by myself. I screamed as I rushed headlong into the void that was this beast’s mouth and plummeted into a sea of darkness. I then began to be pulled under the surface of this murky water and I could not stop the inevitable immersion of myself. What seemed to be the embodiment of terror and misery in liquid form. The battle between myself and whatever force continued to pull at my feet was now lost and I felt myself submerge in this emotion.