The Abbey by Sandy Hiss

As the Autumn wind howled, Wren shivered slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself while admiring the stained glass window. Despite the small crack in the upper right corner, this was the only window in the ancient abbey that still remained intact, a testament to the life that once dwelled within its stone walls.

She knew she shouldn't be here, it was trespassing, but she couldn't keep away from the allure of the old building. Just think of all the monks who traversed these rooms and halls, what tales they could tell. Plus, after several previous jaunts here, this was her final excursion to the old abbey. Her heart felt a bit heavy at the thought.

A damp gust of wind snapped her out of her thoughts. Wren checked the time on her watch. "Oh no! I didn't know it was this late." She hurriedly snapped a few photos of the window and the broken glass shards on the ground, then grabbed her backpack, stowing the camera inside. Whenever she went out exploring, she always kept an eye on the time, never wanting to be caught outside in the dark or within whatever old, creepy structure she was wandering through.

As she jumped down the crumbling stone steps, she sensed that she wasn't alone. Something touched her shoulder. "What the?" Wren quickly turned around to discover that she was face to face with a monk. Above, a crow cawed from atop a drooping beam and suddenly flew off, into the darkness. The scent of smoke and burning candles drifted through the ruins.

Color drained from Wren’s face. This was the moment she had been waiting for, for months. So why, now, was she literally shaking in her boots. Keep it together, kid. He can’t hurt you. "Hello, my name is…Wren. Do you want to tell me something? It’s okay, I’m only here to listen.” She paused, hoping for a response.

The monk continued to look at her, as if he were looking straight into her soul. Wren fidgeted, wiping her nervous hands on her jeans. Before she could say anything more, the monk walked right through her and continued walking towards the mangled hallway. “I…I don’t understand. Do you want me to follow you?” 

Further ahead, Wren could hear more voices echoing through the walkway. There’s more of them and, I think they’re chanting. The monk she encountered joined his counterparts as they walked single file down the hallway.

Where are they going? I need to know, this is unbelievable. Wren pinched herself, not sure if she was really awake or dreaming. “Ouch! Okay, this is no dream. Holy shit!” She followed them, keeping a safe distance while listening to their chants which sounded like lullabies beneath the glistening moon. 

The cemetery, they’re headed to the abbey’s cemetery…but why? Wren had explored the ancient cemetery a few times before, but never witnessed anything paranormal in the least. She watched them as one by one they began stepping down into the earth, as if an invisible staircase was leading them down. And then they were gone. And it was quiet again. 

“No! You can’t leave yet. I haven’t had a chance to ask you why you haunt these grounds. What happened? What did you want me to see?” Wren scoured the cemetery, then looked at the headstone where the monks had disappeared beneath. Crouching down, she got the answer, after all. 

There was a great fire in the abbey in 1765, in which seven monks perished. The cause of the fire was unknown. Wren rubbed the headstone, feeling the carved names of the monks. “Hmm, it says that Brother Sebastian attempted to save them by dragging them out one by one but it was too late. When he went back inside to retrieve the last six bodies, he never came back out.” 

Wren wiped her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Sebastian. I wish that I could have saved you and your brothers. You’re not forgotten. I hope that you’ll find a sense of peace…someday.”

As she departed the abbey, a crow appeared again, headed for the same drooping beam. The smell of smoke and candles also reappeared. Wren shook her head in surrender and trudged through the yellow grass.

Sandy Hiss writes lyrical poetry and short fiction in various genres such as horror, paranormal, and fairy tale. Her works include The Rosegiver and The Haunting of Meredith. She finds forests, gardens with stone statues, and old world architecture to be hauntingly beautiful.