Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 *_ 08 Finale*_

   Rachael Hooper was worried, her daughter, Kate, wasn't home.

   Although she was a headstrong young girl she knew her responsibilities,
Rachael knew this, she also knew that Kate wasn't the type to blindly go
with strangers, she smiled, Kate was more likely to cause them more harm
than they would to her.  No it was the fact that Kate wasn't home on time!

   Rachael looked at the fridge, as expected there was the envelope on
there, Kate had moaned about this - it was something they'd established
when she was eight, she'd been a problem even then, she stayed over at
Shelly's house that night, but had forgotten to ask permission, after being
grounded for a couple of weeks Rachael had told her that she didn't mind if
Kate stayed with friends, as long as she knew where she was, so they agreed
that Kate would leave a note, just in case.

   Well this was a case and the note was on the fridge, Rachael opened it.

   'Mum, I'm going to Harding House, I've got things to think about, don't
even know why I'm leaving this note I should be back way before 5.  Kate'

   Rachael looked at the clock, seven o'clock.  No Kate always knew what
she was doing, if she said she'd be back by 5 she would have been.  Rachael
went to the telephone, she thought perhaps Kate might have met up with the
boys, she sighed, she knew the boys weren't bad, but they were getting to
the age when they started to realise things about girls, and were getting
inquisitive as well.

   She phoned Bradley's parents, but no Kate, Bradley was still in after
his night out, which he still wouldn't tell anyone about, his parents had
grounded him - they were learning.

   She phoned  Paul  and  Mike's parents, no they were both at home,
finally she phoned Billy's parents - they were worried, Billy wasn't home
either, they didn't know where he was!  She told them that Kate wasn't home
either and that she was going to Harding House, they said that they would
meet her there, Rachael made one more phone call, to Bradley's parents,
when they answered she asked them if she could talk to Bradley.

   "Hello Mrs.  Hooper," Bradley said, Rachael told him that Kate was
missing, also that she had said she was going to Harding House, Bradley
became agitated, "Don't let her go there, please Mrs.  Hooper, she doesn't
realise what's there!  She didn't have to, to." He became quiet, Rachael
waited for a few minutes but he didn't speak.

   "Bradley what's up?  You can tell me." Rachael was frantic now, what if
there were some men hiding in the house, what might they have made Kate do?
She had to find out.  "Bradley!  Bradley, how do we get into the house,
tell me quickly Kate's life may depend on it!"

   "I, I don't want to go back there, its spooky." This didn't sound like
Bradley at all, he was really scared, but of what?

   "Bradley!  You're not going back there, but I have to get Kate back."
This was where Kate got her attitude from, although Rachael wouldn't admit
it.  "Now before I have to come round to your house, how do I get into
Harding House, the doors are locked."

   Bradley was sniffing away now, "Kate found an open window, don't know
how, as they've always been bolted before, it at the side of the House, low
down, you can get into a room there.  That was creepy, there are some
stuffed animals all over the place, I still get nightmares about them! 
Don't go there please Mrs.  Hooper." He was really scared, Rachael didn't
know what had happened to him when he was out overnight, but it sounded as
if he'd been scared out of his wits.  She thanked Bradley and hung up, this
time she was determined to find out what had happened to her daughter.

   She left her house and got into her car, she drove to Harding house and
parked in the driveway, there were two bicycles on the drive, she
recognised Kate's bike and assumed the other one was Billy's, and then his
parents turned up in their car.

   "Hello Rachael." Said Bob, Billy's father, "So this is where they've
been spending their time is it?" He asked.

   "Yes!" She replied and explained how they had got into the house, all
three of them walked to the side and found the window, but this time it was
securely locked, she looked at Bob and his wife.

   "This was the way the kids got in, Bradley told me so!" Bob tried to
pull the window open without success; he then got out his mobile phone and
rang Bradley's parents - after a long conversation he hung up.

   "Well this was the window, I don't know how it's got itself locked, but
we can't just break in." He dialled a number on the phone again, "Hello,
Police?  My name is Robert Block; my son is missing I think he's at Harding
house as I've found his bike outside, I need to get into the house to
search it, can you get an officer here?" Rachael mouthed 'what about Kate?'
Bob nodded, "Also there is a girl missing with him, what?  No officer
they're both 12 years old, I don't think they'd be doing anything like
that!  Yes I do know what children are like!  But it's not like either of
them!  Sorry?  If you don't then I'm going to break into the house and
search without your permission.  Do that then!  We'll be outside waiting!" 
He hung up, "Bloody cheek!" He said "Only thought they'd be in the woods
making out!" He smiled at that, "Wouldn't really have minded if they were.
Anyway they're sending a Car round to here - to stop us from breaking in I
think more than anything else."

   They carried on going around the house trying all the windows, but none
of them opened, finally a car turned up and two uniformed officers got out,
Rachael explained to them about how Kate always told her where she would
be, and what Bradley had told her.

   The two officers checked the window and declared it to be securely
locked, "Don't think anyone's gone inside that way for some time!" Rachael
turned on them,

   "I have it on good authority that that room has stuffed animals inside
it, and that there are several displays in the house, my daughter is not
one to tell lies about things, if she said she was inside there then you
can be assured that she was!" she was right in front of the Officers and
not budging, which - when they both towered over her - was something to
behold.

   Grudgingly both officers decided to try the window again, they pulled at
it without success, then one of them got a torch out and directed it on the
floor of the room, several footprints were visible in the dust, leading to
and from the window, he raised the beam and suddenly the display of a lion
and zebra came into view.

   "Control, this is Romeo X-ray 253." He spoke into his radio, "Need
permission to access Harding House, assumed missing children locked
inside."

   "Control to Romeo X-ray 253 - permission granted, but minimum damage
only!" came the reply after a few minutes.

   "Stand back!" the officer said and took out his trunction, taking
careful aim he broke the window just by the lock, carefully inserting his
hand he unlocked the window and swung it open.  He gingerly entered the
house.

   Rachael started to follow but the other officer stopped her, "I'm sorry
madam, but it's better if you don't go in, just in case there's anyone in
there."

   They could hear the officer inside as he walked around the room, "Hello,
this is the police.  Is there anyone in here?" but receiving no reply.  He
got to the light switch and tried it, to his surprise the bulb lit up
showing the room in its starkness.

   "Bloody hell!" He said as he saw the display close up, the lion was
caught in mid-bound as it had landed on the back of the zebra, he read the
plaque on the front, 'Survival of the Fittest' he shook his head.

   The foot prints were now visible and led out of the room, he opened the
door and entered the darkened hallway.  His torch showed that the prints
went both ways, although the newer ones led to the left down the
passageway.  He followed them into what appeared to be the kitchen, on a
table there was a jacket, with a name tag inside, 'Billy Douglas' but
nothing else.  He tried the light switch, with out success, swinging the
torch to the socket he saw that the bulb had been broken the filament bare.
Taking the jacket with him he returned to the room.

   He passed the jacket to his colleague outside who showed it to Billy's
parents.

   "That's my son's jacket; he was wearing it when he left this afternoon."
The officer got onto his radio.

   "Control, this is Romeo X-ray 287." He waited for the control room to
answer, "Control we need the key holder and a K9 team at Harding House, we
think the kids are inside, but may be hiding.  We've found a jacket which
has been positively identified as one of the kids." He waited for the
acknowledgement before returning to the parents.

   "We've got the key holder on his way and we're getting a dog unit in to
help search for the kids, I'm sorry but I've got to ask this question, have
you had a row with your children prior to their running off like this?"

   Bob started to get angry at that question, "No, of course not.  He's
seemed pre-occupied the last couple of days, but we haven't had any
arguments."

   Rachael thought back, "Well, I did have a few heated words with Kate,
she's always been a tomboy and I thought she'd started to grow out of it,
but I wouldn't say she was upset about anything, well except for the
confirmation classes I've arrange for her."

   The officer looked closely at Rachael, "Would that have made her run
away do you think?"

   Rachael shook her head, "Oh no, I mean if she was going to run away she
wouldn't leave a note telling me where to find her would she?" at the
officer's puzzled look she explained about the letter and why Kate always
left one, he nodded.

   "Okay then, what we have is two children, who have hidden themselves in
this house for no apparent reason, you do know that we don't respond to a
missing persons report for 24 hours don't you."

   Bob spoke up for the parents, "Officer, if we thought they were missing
would we be here.  No we know they're here, you've found the proof, or do
you think they were able to lock that window after planting that jacket in
the room?"

   The officer shook his head, "No sir, I know that type of lock; it can
only be closed from the inside.  If the kids are in there then our dog will
find them."

   Rachael said; "It won't hurt them will it?" the officer smiled.

   "Our dogs are well trained, if they find anyone they'll bark to let us
know where they are, all we have to do is to follow them.  So don't worry
about that!" There was a sound of a car stopping at the front door and a
door slamming, the officer walked round  and then returned accompanied by
an elderly man who introduced himself as Parkinson, he worked for the
Estate Agents (Realiator) who were trying to sell the property.

   "Oh my," He said looking at the window, that's not good."

   Bob said, "That's alright, we'll pay for the damage, we just need to
find our kids, we think they're inside."

   Parkinson looked a bit shocked at that, "But there's so much in there, I
hope they're not vandals."

   Rachael drew herself up, "My daughter is not a vandal, I've brought her
up to respect property, so I don't think you have any worries about that."

   Parkinson tried to look apologetic about that, "I didn't mean anything
by that, but you do hear stories about the young today." He started to get
a bunch of keys from his pocket, "We've had to keep the electric running,
but the fuse box is switched off so I'll need to get to that first, it's in
the kitchen," he was saying.

   The police officer interrupted him, "That's alright sir, the electric is
already switched on, my colleague is already inside."

   Parkinson just looked at him, "He's already inside - and he's alright?"
he asked in a shocked voice.

   Rachael pulled at his arm, "Just what do you mean by that?  What's in
there to attack people?"

   Parkinson was white, but not with rage he was shaking, "Well, there have
been reports, noises, that type of thing, one of our prospective clients. .
.  Well he won't even set foot in the place you know."

   Rachael just looked at him, "No, I don't know, Mr.  Parkinson, why won't
he?"

   Parkinson swallowed, "Why because it's haunted, its that damn Josiah
Harding, as soon as we get prospective clients to look at the place he
starts up.  It's almost as if he's hiding something in there."

   Bob looked at Parkinson as if he was mad, "Ghosts, don't be daft man,
they don't exist!"

   Parkinson drew himself up with dignity, "You sir may realise that, and I
realise that, the only problem is that Josiah Harding doesn't!" and he
walked away to unlock the front door.

   Bob went closer to Rachael, "Ghosts indeed, I'd bet that all it is are
some loose floorboards and a broken chimney, the wind rushes down the
chimney causing a noise and people think  'Oh it's a ghost!' It pathetic
how some people turn out to be superstitious."

   Rachael just smiled, she remember some strange things when she was
younger.  Parkinson managed to unlock the door, the other police officer
walked out slowly, Parkinson just looked at him.

   "Did, err did anything happen while you were in there?" He asked
cautiously the officer just shook his head,

   "Nothing, it's very dusty in there you know, I don't know if the dog
will be able to cope with that," He looked up at the driveway, "But we'll
know in a few minutes." He added as the van with the K9 unit arrived.

   The officer got out of the van, he looked at the two waiting and nodded,
"Hi John, Clive, hear you've got some missing kids." Then he saw the three
parents standing there, "Well, don't worry Rex here will find them, got the
best nose in the job." He went round to the back of the van and opened it,
the German Shepherd jumped down, its tail wagging and tongue hanging out.
"Good boy," the handler said as he attached a short lead to the dog, and
led him to the house.

   The officer turned to the group.  "Please once I let the dog loose,
don't make a noise or distract him, if he comes near you don't panic, once
he's in a search mode he'll just stay by the subject and start barking. 
Ready?" the two officers nodded and the Handler removed the lead from the
dog, "Okay boy, search, search." And the dog went running into the house.

   A few seconds later the dog ran out of the house, its eyes wide and its
ears flat, it wasn't frightened, it was terrified!  Parkinson tapped his
nose with a finger; Bob just rolled his eyes up into the air.

   "Don't understand that at all?" Said the handler; "He's normally very
good at searches.  Oh well, have to try it again." He turned the dog around
and pointed to the door, "Search Rex, search." The dog just looked at the
handler and whined.  The handler scratched his head, "Don't understand that
either.  I don't think he wants to go into the house."

   Parkinson laughed, "I told you, he's smelt old Josiah, he'll not go in
there alone." The handler put the short lead back onto the dog's collar.

   "Right, Clive if you'll come with me, we'll search the place with Rex."
He gave a sharp tug on the lead, the dog reluctantly rose up and walked
with him, as they entered the doorway the dogs ears tried to get even
lower, but they entered together with the other policeman (Clive) walking
behind them."

   After a few minutes the dog returned alone and ran to the van, it's legs
shaking, of the two officers there was no sign.  Rachael couldn't wait any
longer.

   "I'm going in." She looked at Bob and his wife, "Are you coming?" Bob
followed her; Katherine (his wife) elected to remain outside with the other
policeman, who was now on his radio calling for reinforcements.

   As they walked into the hall, Bob looked at Rachael.

   "Should we be doing this?" He asked her, she smiled.

   "Let just pretend we're back in the '70's and we're searching for the
rest of the gang." She laughingly said - she did know how Kate felt; she
was just the same at her age.  "Remember when George got himself stuck in
that tree?" She asked Bob, "And the only way we could get him down was by
taking old Mr.  Jones's ladder."

   Bob laughed, "Oh yes, my dad gave me a right beating over that, it
seemed that Mr.  Jones was stuck on his sun lounge roof, where he'd been
painting the side of his house." He shook his head over the memory, "Just
think his son now runs his own gang and your daughter's in that, she's just
like you, you do realise that don't you Rachael."

   She nodded her head, "Yes I know, and I'm treating her the same way my
mum used to treat me, it's true you know?" At his questioning look she
continued, "We do turn into the people we hated.  And then we pester our
kids in turn."

   Bob just smiled at her, "It's the way of the world, I wouldn't worry, I
mean you turned out okay didn't you?"

   She smiled back, "Thank you Bob, you always know what to say."

   They walked on down the hall, arriving at the kitchen, the light was on.
But there was nothing visible in the area, Rachael was going to leave but
something made her stop, Bob looked at her quizzically, she shook her head.

   "They're near here," She said in a soft faraway voice, "I know they
are." And then she fainted, Bob ran to where she lay on the ground.

   "HELP!" He shouted, "WE NEED HELP IN HERE!" From somewhere he could hear
a muffled banging as if someone was trying to attract his attention, but he
was only concerned with Rachael; whose eyes were now moving as if she was
looking at somebody. . .

   -----------------------------------------------------------

   *Rachael's Dream*

   She was standing in the kitchen, an elderly lady was in front of her,
she was wearing an old fashioned dress and had a slight smile on her face,
to Rachael she looked like her grandmother, but she wasn't Rachael knew
that.

   "Who are you?" She asked the woman, who smiled at her.

   "My name is Elizabeth," Came the reply, "You are Rachael and your
daughter is Kate.  I have to thank you Rachael, your daughter was the one
who helped us all, her cousin Billy was also a great help."

   Rachael was confused, "What do you mean Kate was the one who helped you?
What did she do?" the woman smiled.

   "She put herself above her own personal needs to help two people that
she didn't really know, in so doing she also learnt a lot about herself. 
She has grown up a lot in the last few hours, you should be proud of her."
The woman was still smiling at Rachael.  "Such a lovely young woman, she's
got so much to offer the world, and now she needs your help." The smile was
gone now, "She is in trouble and Josiah is not one to allow her to leave
the prison in which she is trapped."

   Rachael just looked stunned, "Prison?  Trapped?  How?" she asked in
quick succession.  The woman just stared back at her.

   "She is trapped behind the wall of the kitchen you're in, there is a
switch, concealed as a brick, which will open the door, however there is no
way of opening it from the inside, Josiah made sure of that during the last
few days of his life." Her eyes were smouldering now, "He fixed the
mechanism so that once the door closed the only way was by the brick."

   Rachael looked at the wall in front of her, it was full of bricks, she'd
never find the right one on her own; she turned to Elizabeth.

   "Which brick do I have to use?" Rachael asked, Elizabeth smiled and
pointed out the correct brick.

   "You're going to wake up soon," Elizabeth told her, "You will have to
press that brick and ensure that the door is stopped from closing, there is
a stairway leading down to the room, you're find Kate and Billy there - You
will also find my son and daughter, I have a request for their bodies, you
will also find mine in the other part of the room, I've tried to watch over
them all, and now it is time to rest.  Rachael I ask you to give us all a
proper burial, but we will never be buried with Josiah he's make his own
grave, I'll never want to join him in it."

   Rachael looked at the woman in front of her, realisation of what she was
running through her head, she reached out and hugged the woman, "I promise
to do everything that I can!"

   "Bless you cousin." Elizabeth said and she faded from Rachael's eyes,
which opened to find Bob and the two policemen standing in the room.

   --------------------------------------------------------------

   *Kate's Version*.

   Josiah seemed very happy now that we'd found out that we were trapped,
he even told us where he kept spare candles to keep alight, but his voice
was gloating, I didn't mind we'd helped Darcy and Cassandra to move on from
this dreary place, even the scene of the two bodies now joined on the one
bed gave me satisfaction.

   "Don't worry Billy," I said, "Mum will be here soon." Billy just looked
at me.

   "But if he's right then how are they going to find us?" He asked, I
couldn't answer, I mean the wall was so realistic that even I couldn't see
the joins when it was closed, It looked as if we were meant to die down
here, I remembered the small amount of food I had in my backpack, I took
some of it out and my hand brushed against a book.  Book?  Why would I
bring a book with me; I reached in and pulled out a Bible.

   "What is that?" Josiah's voice spoke out; I didn't answer him, if he
wanted to know he'd have to look for himself.  He appeared in front of me
holding out his hand, "Child, give me that book!" his tone brooked no
arguments, but I didn't respond.

   Josiah reached out and grabbed hold of the book, but when his hand
touched the book, it vanished.  He drew back.

   "What witchery is this?  What have you done to me?" He screamed.

   I held up the book to his face, "Witchery?  Not mine Josiah; this is
something you have brought upon yourself."  I opened the book to Psalms and
started to read it out loud.

   The effect on Josiah was immediate

   "Stop that!" He cried out, hands clutching at his ears, "Don't read any
more!" I stood up and approached the form wavering in front of me.

   "What's the matter Josiah?" I asked, "Does the word of God scare you so
much now?  You used to carry on about how much you were doing God's work,
and now it seems you can't even listen to it." I started to read again.

   Josiah seemed to shrink down into himself and then rose up to the
ceiling to vanish, his voice came down to us.

   "I'll ensure that your bodies are never found, you will be trapped here
forever!" I looked at Billy who was still looking at me.

   "When did you think about using that Bible?" He asked me

   "I donno," I said, "It was a surprise to me when I picked it up.  It was
as if something was telling me to." I still didn't know why I took it, but
now it seems like a good idea.

   We went back up the stairs to the locked door, I used the torch to try
to follow the switch concealed by the brick on the other side, but it was
hidden from our sight, we started to bang on the door, hoping that someone
might hear us, it wasn't too late, but I knew that mum would be worried and
hopefully opening my letter by now.

   I started to cry, it was so unfair!  Deep down I knew that I was going
to die down here, and the last thing I'd said to mum was that I hated her.
All because she wanted me to go to confirmation classes; I promised myself
that should we ever get out of here, I'd try my best at the classes.  I
might even consider wearing (I shivered at this thought) dresses!

   Billy put his arm around me, he'd started to touch me more since we made
love, and used a handkerchief to wipe my eyes, and we started on the slow
walk back downstairs to the room.

   -----------------------------------------------------------------------

   Rachael looked up at the group surrounding her, "I'm sorry," She said,
"I don't normally faint like that."

   Bob pulled her to her feet, "That's okay Rachael, you're under a bit of
stress at the moment, it's understandable." He didn't want to make too much
of a fuss over her, what if his wife came in at that time, she wouldn't
understand.

   Rachael shook herself out from his hold, she looked at the wall, 'now if
it was a dream then I'm going to look very stupid' she thought to herself.

   "I think there's something wrong with that wall." She said pointing to
the wall Elizabeth had showed her, "I think there may be a door hidden
there!" The policemen looked at the wall, and then back at Rachael.  She
could tell what they were thinking.  'Bloody woman's got PMT or something'
she'd have to show them herself!

   She went to the wall and started pushing on the bricks, she couldn't
remember the exact brick that Elizabeth had shown her, and then she heard a
'click' and the brickwork moved, the two officers jaws dropped as this
happened; Rachael looked around and found a metal bin which she placed in
the doorway.

   "If Kate and Billy are down here it's because they couldn't get the door
open again, if one of you stay here and keep an eye on the door," She was
looking at the two policemen when she said this, "and should it close then
please press this button, understood?" they nodded, she looked into the
darkened area, "I'm going to need a torch for this, one officer handed her
his torch which she turned on.  Then she entered the room.

   Bob followed her with a policeman behind him; they started down the
stairs listening to the groans of the metalwork as they descended.

   "Kate?" Rachael called out.

   "M-mum is that you?" came Kate's timid voice from a room where there was
a flicker of light showing, and then Kate and Billy appeared, slightly
dishevelled but apparently okay, Kate ran into Rachael's arms, "Oh mum I
thought I'd never see you again!" she sobbed.  Rachael just held onto her,
this was the first time Kate had ever shown this side of herself.

   "Shhh!" Rachael said, "I know, now don't worry you're safe." Then Kate
pulled back from her.

   "OH Mum!  We've got to get out of here!  If that door shuts we're going
to be. . ." Rachael stopped her.

   "It's okay, I've wedged the door," She then whispered into Kate's ear,
"Elizabeth told me." She smiled as she watched Kate's eyes grow large.

   "Mom," She said, "You'd better come into this room, but you might not
like it" she took Rachael's hand and pulled her into the room, the candle
was still throwing its feeble light around the room.

   Rachael was prepared for something, but not this.  At one side of the
room was a large, broken, glass display and two naked bodies, the woman was
chained to the bed her head raised and eyes looking at a point above the
form of a man, still attached to a wooden stake, his body was lying against
the woman his face on her stomach.

   "Mother, this is Cassandra and Darcy Harding, their father Josiah found
them one night making love; this was is punishment for them." Then taking
her hand again she walked past the partition to a bed, in the bed was a
skeleton, the skull was away from the rest of the body.  "This is
Elizabeth." Kate told her, "I don't know why Josiah kept her here instead
of her grave, but I think they shouldn't be here any more."

   Rachael nodded, and noticing that nobody else was near, Bob and Billy
were still looking at the two in the other room, said to Kate.

   "I agree, and I told Elizabeth that I would ensure that they were all
buried together!" Kate just looked at her, and then shook her head, at
Rachael's surprised look Kate said,

   "I don't think Josiah deserves to be with them, he should suffer!" Her
voice showed contempt for the man.

   "I know." Said Rachael softly, "I'll see to that!" and she took her
daughter's hand and walked back to the stairway with Bob and Billy
following.  The policeman was left down in the room staring at the figures
there.

   --------------------------------------------------------

   The local papers were full of the news

   '*Bodies found in local house*

   A strange discovery was made by two local children on Sunday, in the
property known as Harding House, three bodies were found in highly
suspicious circumstances.

   Police report that two of the people had been murdered, the murderer was
know to be Josiah Harding who died in 1894, the coroner directed the jury
to a verdict of unlawful killing on Darcy and Cassandra Harding by their
father Josiah Harding, also the remains of Josiah's wife Elizabeth Harding
were also found, this fact surprising the Parish Priest who, as far as his
records showed, was insistent that her remains were still interred in the
family plot.

   The coroner has release the bodies to the nearest relatives who are
holding a funeral service for all three on Thursday.'

   ---------------------------------------------------------------

   Both Kate's and Billy's family paid for the funeral, they stopped the
vicar from placing the bodies into the Harding family plot, selecting a
sunny part of the graveyard for the graves to be dug.

   Kate stood by the grave as the coffins were lowered down into the
ground, as she gazed around she faintly saw three figures standing nearby,
Darcy bowed to her before they all vanished.

   After the funeral she and Billy walked together, they hadn't told anyone
about that afternoon, but Kate suspected her mother was aware that
something had happened.

   - They didn't want to talk about that afternoon, but it was held in both
hearts, they were almost inseparable nowadays, Rachael did allow Kate to
come home with Billy to do their homework

   Kate had changed, although she was still a tomboy at times, she did give
in and start wearing dresses, Rachael had managed to get her to wear a
training bra, in Rachael's eyes her young daughter was growing up.

   Billy had undergone subtle changes as well, he was more relaxed around
the girls, keeping quiet as the other boys were sneaking looks at the girls
dresses trying to see what underwear they had on, and generally making a
bigger impression on the girls, but he still only had eyes for Kate.  Their
walk through the graveyard brought them to the Harding Plot, they hadn't
noticed this, but then a weak cry made them look up.

   "Kaaattee, Bbiillyy, help me!" they looked at the figure.  It was
Josiah! He was chained to the grave, Kate knelt beside him.

   "What's happened to you?" She asked him, he gave a hollow groan.

   "This is my penance - To remain here for as long as Darcy and Cassandra
had remained in their prison" He struggled against his bonds, "If you will
say anything to the powers that be they may release me."

   Kate shook her head, "This is what you had made for yourself.  You were
so sure of yourself that you didn't consider the consequences of your
actions, you constructed this - you should think about that!" She grabbed
hold of Billy and they both left the graveyard, Josiah's pleading voice
fading into the background.

   That evening Kate had her confirmation class, she surprised the vicar by
being able to answer some of the questions about the bible - she'd been
reading it ever since that day, not that she was serious about the church,
but reading behind the stories gave her an insight on how life was like in
those days.

   She still belonged to Bradley's gang, and they still rode together when
they were able, and she still played soccer, much to Rachael's secret
pleasure, managing to score the winning goal in the schools tournament.

   Harding house was eventually sold, it was converted to a hotel - the
stuffed animals were removed to the local museum, when Kate read about that
she smiled, she hoped they'd be happier there.

   Josiah Harding is still held in chains, but is visited by Kate and
Billy, at some stage Kate will petition for his release and help him to
pass on, but for now the memory of Darcy and Cassandra is all that keeps
her from doing this.

   In the future Kate and Billy will marry; they will stay for some nights
in the Harding's Hotel.  -  When they have children (a boy and girl) their
names will be Darcy and Cassandra (much to the kids annoyance later on in
their lives), their third child (a daughter, luckily) which they called
Elizabeth, Kate and Billy still found they were connected, this also
extended to their children which caused embarrassment at times, but that
may be another story.

   *The End*.