Page 49 of Love At First Fright
What other ways could I use to make someone believe in ghosts, if I don’t have a Babylon candle?
Babylon candles only worked at midnight on Halloween, and their flames burned blue and fast. They wouldn’t allow Ellis to see Hank, only sense his presence. She needed him tosee.
I asked Mama and she said to find a hagstone. You can’t make one, you need to find it.
What’s a hagstone?
A small stone with a hole in the centre. You hold it up to your eye and it lets you see a ghost, only during a full moon. Whoever uses it won’t be able to hear them though, just see them.
That would be enough.
Thank you x a million,Rosemary replied.
Are you going to tell me why you need it?Dina asked.
Too much to put in a text, but I will when I see you.
Does it have anything to do with he who must not be named?
Rosemary hesitated, then said:Maybe.
—
After her encounter with Cecilia,Rosemary spent the rest of the working night with the second unit, observing as they filmed an opening shot of the gothic manor by the moonlight. As dawn came, the second-unit director called it quits and everyone went to bed. Back in her room, Rosemary had showered and was trying to get ready to sleep. Only, tired as she was, sleep was evading her. She needed to speak to Ellis abouthis ghost dog, but had no idea how to broach that conversation.
Just as she slipped into bed, thinking she’d read a few chapters of one of her comfort horror novels (demonic nuns!), her phone buzzed.
I can’t sleep so I’m watching Crimson Peak,the text from Ellis read.
She’d totally forgotten she’d put that on Ellis’s horror watch list. It was the perfect modern gothic, and that was a molehill Rosemary was willing to die on.
What do you think?she replied.
There’s something weird going on between this brother and sister.
She chuckled. He was right on the money.How much have you watched?
She’s at the creepy house and found some of those old recordings.
I love that bit. Are you enjoying it?
So much. The ghosts are amazing, I love the set design but…
But?
But I don’t know if I would say it’s scary.
I think a lot of gothic horror isn’t necessarily scary, more creepily atmospheric and full of pageantry.
Now you say it that makes sense. Hope I didn’t disturb you sleeping.
Not sleeping. Hard to with morning light coming in.
Did you manage to write tonight?
No, I stayed on set. I wasn’t able to focus.
Why’s that?
