The sky looks cold, and the twilight displayed a dark blue in color, I walk down the alley towards a black gate. My left hand dragging my trolley and phone in my right hand with google map showing that I have reached the destination. The atmosphere was getting dark except for the streetlight in the corner that showered its light and tries to cover and shed its rays as much as it could. It was softly drizzling so I had my hood up to save myself from catching a cold and walked towards the gate.
"Here it is, Malory Cemetery" I whispered to myself after reaching the gate. The gate was huge and black in color. I had never been in this part of the town, so I didn't know this place existed. My black hair blended in with my dark hoodie, and I saw an old man trudged towards me.
"Are you the cleaner?" the old man asked me. I replied that I was. He looked very old to be a guard, but he wore a blue uniform. His face was wrinkled but he had fierce blue eyes that looked back at me. "My name is Crystine" I introduced and held out my right hand for a shake which was not received instead the old guard handed me a paper. "This is the contract paper for the grave cleaner and a companion of the dead" His voice seemed rough but had a tinged of softness in it. I took the paper, switching my flashlight on I continued to read the contents of the contract. The contract paper consisted of the rules one should abide while working as a grave cleaner and discretely following the role of being the companion of the dead, emphasizing more on the latter point. To be a grave cleaner, I can understand but as the companion of the dead I found it hard on how I am going to company a dead person.
I gave my signature since I had nothing to lose. The payment to be a grave cleaner was good, I only had to work for a month and after receiving the payment I would be free of debt. Of course, I find it weird that they pay this much amount just to clean tombstones, but it must be a cemetery of a very wealthy family. I returned the paper, and the old guard took it, examined my signature and placed it inside a black file that he had been carrying.
In the contract, I had to stay in the cemetery for a month and I was specifically instructed to clean the tombs after the sun sets. Food and lodging would be provided for free as well. Since my college had an autumn break for this whole month as well as the upcoming spirit celebration, I had thought it to be the perfect opportunity to get this job. I have it all planned out, for the entire month I would get to clean the tombs and work on my studies for the upcoming service exams and I won't have to meet any people and colleagues. Moreover, this salary would end all my debts. That was the main reason, to pay my bills.
Returning from my thoughts, I observe as the old guard turned around and motioned me to follow him inside the Cemetery as he opens the black gate. The gates opened with a rusted creak of old metals, I followed behind and the gate creaked again as it closes. It was already dark now, and the drizzle has stopped but the environment inside the cemetery seems to be darker and warmer than it appeared when we were outside.
"The name's Oliver, this is the key to that small house over there at the corner. I'll be in my station, farewell"
"Thank you, Oliver," I offered my gratitude. Oliver handed me a black key and he tipped his blue hat before turning and going towards the opposite direction into the dark abyss. I wonder how he could see and walked straight without hitting a thing or two. And it was also an odd introduction I thought as I walked towards the small house. The small house was larger than the one room apartment that I have in the main city. The house was built on red bricks, and I could see a black roof. As I walked closer, I felt a cool breeze pass by me, and I shivered followed by the travelling goosebumps from my hands to my shoulders.
Something about this cemetery makes me feel uneasy as well as excited. I had never been a grave cleaner, but this kind of opportunity with multiple benefits was hard to come by, so I had to grasp it. Afterall how hard would it be to sweep and clean a grave and with the amount of money, I was willing to do anything for it. I'm surprised that no one knew about this job as it was advertised in a website for temporary jobs.
"Whatever happens I will do my best in fulfilling my work here" I encouraged myself as I unlock the door and went inside the room. It was dark and a little dusty, so I switch on my flash and search for a switch to the light. There was a single switch and a single charging port. I turned the switch on, in an instant the light bulb sparkled for a moment which made me flinched. The bulb gave out a warm yellow glow to the room and casted the insides of the room into a full view. There was a bed covered by a white sheet, a chair and a table, a fire hearth inside the bedroom and a sofa seat near the fire hearth. Another two doors were visible, one led to the kitchen, and another led to a medium sized bathroom. I was happy beyond measure. Although the room was dusty and accompanied with a few cobwebs here and there, it was nothing too difficult for me to handle. I looked at the time and it was almost 9pm, I had to start my work.
In another room behind the house, that was where I saw brooms of different sizes that seemed way too many, from brooms taller than me to brooms that reached till my knee. A lavender scent seemed to be lingering in the air, but I couldn't ascertain the source, so I left it at that. Taking a random broom and some cloth, I went out and into my room to change my attire for work.
Wearing a black full sleeve top and a black palazzo I made my way towards the tombstones. It was a new moon tonight so there was complete darkness, but I had brought a torch and a safety knife. I left my phone charging in my room. Switching on my torch I walked straight towards the small cement pathway that was overrun by rose bushes, some of the branches blocking the paths. The thorns pricked and tagged at my pants. Another work I listed down in my mind. To cut and arrange the rose bushes. Adjusting the broom in my left hand, I started to search for a tombstone that needed cleaning. But too my surprise most of the tombstones I have seen so far was made with grey marble and was very clean and well maintained. No vines or dirt's at all.
At the very end of the pathway, I saw a white tombstone that caught my eye, it was mostly covered by the rose branches on the beautiful marble. I was dazzled by the beautiful glow it emitted before my very eyes, so I approached closer and reached out my hand to see the inscriptions written on the tombstone.
"Let's see, Vincent Malory, born in the year 1695 and laid to rest in the year 1717"
Why laid to rest and not died, I thought as I reached for my safety knife to cut off the rose branches. This tombstone was not as large as the others. There were still some words crafted in the tombstone, but I couldn't make out what it was because of the branches.
"Ouch!" A thorn prick on my finger when I was trimming the branches. The stinging broke the trance that I was in. A small red color started to form on my fingertips. As if on cue a crow cawed and flew past my head and sat on a branch of a nearby tree and stared at me unmoving even as I pointed my torch towards the crow, it seems to be observing me and what I was doing.
"It is just a bird, just a bird" I tried to calm myself as I stood up and clean my fingers that had been pricked. Since the rose bushes was cleared, I could see the other sentences that was written on the tombstone, without speaking I skimmed on the words written.
"Here lies Vincent of House Malory, laid to sleep on the 17th of October 1717. Shy away from stepping in but once you do so, be brave in offering" These words felt as if something was not right. Coming closer, I could see another sentence written there but it was written in a language I didn't understand. My fingers tracing those words as I try to read but I didn't realize that a bit of my blood had also traced on the words. Before I had the chance to clean the stain my blood had disappeared as if it was absorbed by the tombstone.
"What the.." I was confused. The tombstone although white and centuries old it was pristine clean. Something was in the air, and it felt heavy and thick.
A rustle in the bushes behind me caught my attention and I swiftly turned towards the bushes. I knew that every cemetery was haunted by a spirit in this time of the year, but I believe that spirits didn't have the power to touch a human being. Afterall, I had been haunted by a spirit of a headless girl for a year now, although the spirit didn't follow me into the cemetery which I found it relieving. But now I feel dread starting to form in my stomach.
"You don't have to be afraid of that" said a voice behind me. "Yeah, thanks for that" I replied nonchalantly but my breath got caught. I was alone in the cemetery except for the old guard Oliver. So, who spoke to me right now?
Since I tried turn back hurriedly, I slipped and fell bum first. My bums stinging and my hands rested on top of the surrounding rose bushes during the fall. I winced from the pain but closed my eyes. I was scared shitless. Before I fell, I saw a white figure in my peripheral vision, but I closed my eyes hoping that the figure would vanish from my sight.
"Open your eyes" a male voice whispered near my ears; his chilling words breathe into my neck making my whole-body shiver in coolness as well as in fear.