Some Notes for the Project

Memo to Self:

The following notes were found at the building site after a search was conducted by the replacement crew. No sign of the original workers hired is available except for the notebook discovered and recorded here. We will keep searching to see if we can discover what happened. And the notes might provide some sort of clue as to what went down. The owner of the original site cannot be contacted and we still have work to complete.

- Danvers L. Stephens (Project Manager)

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Day One

We were told that we should keep a record if there are any issues with the renovation work. Some members of the crew are a little superstitious and know the history of the place. No real issue with them until we came to the basement. A fully furnished house with a typically unfinished bottom half. The word “Holy” in red paint on the wall (a very strong shade red that was clearly spraypainted on there many months ago). Crew refused to start with that part of the home. We have attended to the other rooms and the work is proceeding well. Can leave the basement for later in the week.

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Day Four

Sent three of our men to check on the wiring in the basement before the rest of the crew appear. Appeared on site and I cannot find a single sign of any of them. I still think that they never made it to the site, but I cannot get them over the phone and no one remembers anything about them except their names (no addresses on file). In the basement, “Holy” is still there, and no one wants to be there and just work around it. The weather is getting cooler and we have to keep the heat on for the rest of the home. Portable heaters will not work, even if we bring generators and have every other part of the home connected. The basement is completely unfinished brick and dust. There has to be a den built in with a fireplace – I can see the space where it will work – so, that will take up a few weeks (all natural gas; no wood). “Holy” looks like someone topped it off with more paint. This really isn’t funny and I want to bring in more staff. Have contacted head office on this. Will wait.

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Week One

New crew is working out well, especially one guy named Mac (yeah, that’s all he gave me). He is a bit older, which is fine by me. He knows the whole history of the place and really has no fear. It seems that the rumours are true. All that witchcraft stuff that we heard about. There were even trials here and some of the women were buried in unmarked graves not too far from here. And he talked about curses and stuff like that while we were having lunch. Glad that he did not say any of this while we were on site. Front rooms pretty much done, as is part of the top floor. Still have to settle on a crew for the basement.

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Day Nine

Again, same problem with the crew. Went in early to see if they did take a look and no one is on site. Did find some gloves and one hardhat. That was Graham’s. Good man. Young guy. Baseball fan (Yankees). He wouldn’t just take off. Stood there looking at the pair of them and his hat. And then I looked at the “Holy”.

The paint was running.

I told the men to get the pressure cleaner out of the truck when they arrived and just rubbed it out myself. Some watched me from the stairs as I did it. They looked happier. Most of the property done. Can’t ignore the wiring forever and will have to fix it up soon. Not sending in anyone early now. Maybe Mac can help out?

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Day Twelve

Desperate? Asked Mac what I should do since we have two days to get out of here before the head office starts snooping. Gave me a story about using a priest or some sort of witchcraft on the place. Police have been contacted about the missing men (strange thing: none of the missing had wives; one girlfriend seemed happy; no kids, either). Told crew to come back in two days. All the wiring seems to be done for now. Did not share plan.

Better be clear.

Mac says that I have to stay the night and leave a pentigram (pentagram?) on the ground for the evil spirits to leave. No time to call for a priest (who would even care about this?), so I'm on it. I am here on a cold night, but the heat got turned back on. The only thing is that the “Holy” is still there and it is dripping again. Got my inflatable mattress, sleeping bag, radio and even equipment for renovating with me (don't think that I need the gloves and helmet, but whatever). And I'm taking notes about all of this.

Mac drew a very good picture of what I should put on the ground. Like something a heavy metal group would put on the cover of an album.

Just so dumb.

I will see what happens in the morning.

-A.

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Final Notes:

There was no material evidence that he spent the night there, except for the notebook that had no pages ripped out and appeared to be up-to-date until very recently. Two days have passed since the last entry and the men do not want to return to the job. A new crew will be brought in.

We have tried to look for a “Mac” in our files. No one of that name has been found. And I have decided to inspect the site myself.

The spraypainted “Holy” is still there and the paint seems fresh. Very odd.

Will handle this before the end of the season. The sellers want to move this property as soon as we can (still no contact with original owners).

It really is a beautiful spot.

- Danvers L. Stephens (Project Manager)

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